Vatican intrigue hits new level with leak denial

The Vatican denied recently that it leaked documents that led to the resignation of a prominent Catholic editor, intervening in a tale of ecclesiastical intrigue that has dominated Italian headlines for weeks.

The Vatican No. 2 issued a statement saying reports that Vatican officials leaked the documents were false and that Pope Benedict XVI himself “deplored these unjust and insulting attacks” that were “defaming the Holy See.”

The statement – unusual in its line-by-line denial of unsourced rumors – was confirmation that what had been a strictly Italian church scandal had reached the highest echelons of power in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace and that the pope clearly wanted to put an end to it.

The intrigue began last summer, when Il Giornale newspaper published reports based on what it said were court documents saying the editor of Avvenire, the newspaper of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, had been involved in a harassment case several years ago with gay overtones.

The revelations were initially seen as tit-for-tat retribution by Il Giornale, owned by Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s brother, against Avvenire. The Catholic paper had harshly criticized the premier for his purported sex scandals with younger women.

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Malawi police continue anti-gay sweep

International human rights groups continue to monitor the situation in Malawi, where police have conducted a series of sweeps to arrest gays and lesbians.

A spokesman for the police in Blantyre, Malawi, told the press that investigators had uncovered a network of high-profile people who engage in same-sex activity and “we will arrest them all.”

In December, Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga were arrested for celebrating their engagement. The men now face prosecution for felony charges of gross indecency and unnatural acts and, if convicted, possible prison sentences of 14 years.

Germany plans big bash

Dusseldorf, Germany, is planning a celebration in July that blends the best of Oktoberfest and Pride.

The nine-day event, expected to draw crowds larger than Munich’s annual Oktoberfest, is the Largest Faire on the Rhine.

For the past 20 years, the first Monday of the celebration has been known as Pink Monday, a celebration of the LGBT community.

“Picture Oktoberfest with beer tents and treats, a temporary amusement park with huge modern rides that rival those at six flags … then add 50,000 homosexuals on a mission to have a good time,” read a statement from the Dusseldorf Marketing and Tourism Bureau.

The festival takes place  July 17-25, about a week prior to the start of the Gay Games in Cologne.

Conviction still haunts gay man

He was convicted of a crime more than half a century ago in England, but what he did in 1959 - have consensual sex with another man -would be legal today.

So John Crawford, 70, wants his criminal record cleaned up for good, so that he doesn’t have to disclose his conviction when he seeks volunteer work, and because of a deeply held belief that he should not be punished for his sexual orientation.

“I came into this world without a criminal record and I’d like to leave this world without one,” said Crawford, a retired butler.

Crawford’s bid to clean up his record is backed by gay organizations looking to help others who were convicted under Britain’s once draconian anti-homosexuality laws, which began to be eased in 1967 as social values changed and sex acts between consenting adults began to be decriminalized.

“These laws were homophobic in the first place, that’s why they were rescinded, but the laws are still penalizing people,’’ said Deborah Gold, director of Galop, a gay rights group that is helping Crawford.