NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      VATICAN CITY (CWNews.com) - The Holy See on Thursday summoned the ambassador from Italy to the Vatican on Thursday to deliver a protest over the treatment of the cardinal of Naples in an ongoing probe of organized crime.

      Cardinal Michele Giordano of Naples saw his official offices raided by police last Saturday as they sought evidence of corruption and the funneling of archdiocesan funds to his brother, Mario Giordano, who was arrested on August 20 on charges of money laundering and loan sharking. The Vatican then protested that the probe violated a concordat between Italy and the Vatican that prohibited the search and reported phone taps without first notifying the Vatican.

      Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said the Italian ambassador was summoned to a meeting with Vatican Foreign Minister Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran in which the archbishop outlined the Holy See's position on the affair, which media outlets speculated included protests of violations of the concordat. Among other provisions, the treaty protects places of worship from outside interference, which the Vatican says includes chancery offices.