Vatican Urges Ex-Swiss Guard To Expose Gay Threat

Vatican Swiss guard commandant Daniel Anrig stands guard during a celebration commemorating the 1527 Sack of Rome, in the courtyard of the headquarters of the Swiss Guards, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 6, 2010. The ... Vatican Swiss guard commandant Daniel Anrig stands guard during a celebration commemorating the 1527 Sack of Rome, in the courtyard of the headquarters of the Swiss Guards, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 6, 2010. The ceremony is held each May 6 to commemorate the 147 Swiss Guards who died protecting Pope Clement VII during the 1527 Sack of Rome carried out by the mutinous troops of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. (AP Photo/Filippo Monteforte, Pool) MORE LESS
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VATICAN CITY (AP) — A senior Vatican official has urged a former Swiss Guard commander to come forward with details about accusations that the gay culture in the Vatican posed a security threat to the pope.

Elmar Maeder, who headed the Swiss Guards from 2002-2008, told the Swiss newspaper Schweiz am Sonntag that he didn’t doubt that predatory gays worked at the Vatican. He was quoted as saying that in his experience, “many homosexuals tend to be more loyal toward each other than toward other people or institutions.” He said he wouldn’t promote gay guards out of fear they might be disloyal.

In an interview with La Repubblica, Archbishop Angelo Becciu, No. 2 in the Vatican’s secretariat of state, urgedMaeder to provide names to back his accusations. His office confirmed his quotes Friday.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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