Vatileaks - The Butler did it, but he may be pardoned

The butler did it, and now he will have to face justice, following a Vatican indictment. Pope Benedict XVI's former butler, Paolo Gabriele, has been ordered to stand trial for systematically stealing and leaking confidential Vatican information to an Italian journalist. 

ROME, ITALY (Catholic Online) - The Holy See issued the 35 page indictment, which reveals that Gabriele thought himself to be an "infiltrator for the Holy Spirit" and that his efforts would somehow help the Church. 

Instead of helping, Gabriele's efforts created a scandal after a book was published detailing accusations of corruption in the Church. The scandal has been dubbed "VatiLeaks" by the media. Gabriele was aided by Claudio Sciarpelletti, a computer expert who worked for the Vatican Secretariat of State. Sciarpelletti will also face lesser charges in the scandal. 

Gabriele told investigators that he felt his efforts would bring a shock to the Vatican, and that such a shock would somehow help. He felt the Holy Father did not know enough about what was going on around him. He later admitted that he became addicted to leaking the documents, seeing himself as an agent working for the Holy Spirit. 

Gabriele explained he would photocopy chosen documents, then bring the copies to a reporter, meeting in an apartment just outside Vatican City. He also said he gave second copies to a spiritual mentor, who has been identified by the Church, but whose name has not been publicly revealed. According to the indictment, the unnamed mentor destroyed the documents because he believed them to be "illegitimate" and "dishonest."

The Vatican also said that Gabriele has several objects not belonging to him in the apartment, including a gold nugget, a check made out to the Pope for €100,000, and a 16th century book. 

The Vatican has no prison, so if convicted, Gabriele could face up to six years in an Italian prison. However, the Holy Father could pardon Gabriele at any time, and may do so, following the trial. Gabriele is 46 and is married with three children. 

Sadly, corruption is a regular fixture within any institution, and even within the Church, it sometimes exists. Fortunately, the Church takes such matters seriously, and works hard to root out problems. Even the scriptures predicted such corruption in the Church of Christ, but added that God would also protect the Church. In this case, God's protection is once again evident.

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