Two scandals involving Italian priests have rocked the Vatican,
The Independent reports.
According to the British newspaper, a northern Italian priest has been removed from office for finding gay lovers on the Internet and participating in gay orgies.
In a separate incident, a priest in southern Italy is being investigated in connection with the possible murder of one of his parishioners.
The Rev. Gratien Alabi is under investigation after the bones of a woman were found hidden at an ancient chapel in the diocese of Taranto. They are thought to belong to Guerrina Piscaglia, 50, who disappeared in 2014, the
London Times reported.
Some newspapers covering the case reported that the priest had an affair with the woman and fathered a child with her. Alabi has denied the claims.
In the other case, a 32-year-old man from Rovigo, which is between Venice and Bologna, says a 50-year-old priest whom he met on Facebook confessed to him that he is homosexual and has had sex with several religious figures and with members of the Vatican's Swiss Guard.
The unnamed 50-year-old priest said he had met men online and had taken part in gay orgies.
The man making the claims said he first contacted church authorities, but after they took no action, he took the story to the media.
The Rev. Filippo Santoro, archbishop of Taranto, took over the case and dismissed the priest, saying his actions were "absolutely incompatible with the priestly ministry."
"Needless to say, the feelings of the archbishop and the Curia are those of regret and dismay," a Vatican spokesperson told Italian newspaper
Corriere del Mezzogiorno.
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