A prominent Catholic Archbishop has accused a group of senior clergy of allowing "heresy, sodomy and corruption" to take hold in the modern Catholic Church.
In a recent interview, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, who is a leading critic of Pope Francis, insisted that the upper echelons of Vatican leadership were “mercenary infidels who seek to scatter the flock and hand the sheep over to be devoured by ravenous wolves".
Vigano insists that many senior leaders are seeking to minimise the discussion on issues such as homosexuality, which is classified as a sin according to the Catholic Catechism. He also insisted that there was a "close link between sodomy and paedophilia" and accused the Vatican of keeping silent about it "in order not to offend the current mentality that is widespread even among many prelates."
Referring to Pope Francis by his name — Jorge Mario Bergoglio — Vigano said:
"For Bergoglio and his entourage, sodomy is not a sin that cries out for vengeance in the presence of God, as the Catechism teaches. Bergoglio’s words on this topic — and even more the actions and words of those who surround him — unfortunately, confirm that an operation of legalisation of homosexuality is currently underway and that prelates and theologians are carrying this discussion forward who have manifested without equivocation that they are unfaithful to Catholic teaching."
Vigano went on to suggest that secret financial deals had been made between the Chinese communist government and the Vatican, causing senior clergy to stay silent on the relentless persecution of Chinese Christians. He suggested that the clergyman tasked with brokering the agreements was the now de-frocked Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who has been accused of sexually abusing minors.
Following the allegations, the Vatican stripped McCarrick of his priestly credentials. He is thought to be the first cardinal ever laicized for sexual abuse.
Vigano alleged that McCarrick was part of a "gay lobby", along with the Archbishop of Newark, Cardinal Joseph Tobin, who holds a more liberal view on the issue of homosexuality.
"Let’s not forget that the legitimisation of homosexuality is part of the agenda of the New World Order," he said, "to which the Bergoglian church adheres openly and unconditionally — not only for its destabilising value in the social body but also because sodomy is the principal instrument with which the Enemy intends to destroy the Catholic priesthood, corrupting the souls of the Ministers of God."
Though he once held the prestigious position of Vatican ambassador to the United States, Vigano has spent the last few years being embroiled in a number of high profile tussles with the Holy See. In 2018, he published an open letter accusing Pope Francis of covering up McCarrick's abuse. The Vatican dismissed his claims as “monstrous” and “blasphemous".
