THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Pope has shut down a 500-year-old Rome monastery and kicked out its monks after it gained notoriety for hosting a performance by a lap dancer-turned-nun and welcomed celebrities such as Madonna.
Benedict XVI ordered the closure of the monastery of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem (Santa Croce in Gerusalemmme), which holds some of the Roman Catholic Church's most prized relics, because of "financial and liturgical irregularities", a Vatican spokesman told The Daily Telegraph.
Around 20 Cistercian monks will be transferred to other monasteries around Italy, after it was found that their "lifestyles" were "not in keeping" with Church doctrine, bringing to an end a monastic presence on the site that dates back five centuries.
They reportedly demonstrated "questionable behaviour and a lack of moral discipline" – a possible allusion to homosexual relations, which the Church regards as a sin.
The historic monastery is attached to the Church of the Holy Cross, which was founded in 320AD by the mother of the Emperor Constantine, St Helena, who is said to have brought back the relics from the Holy Land.
In recent years it has established a reputation for publicity-seeking stunts and the courting of wealthy celebrities, including Gloria Estefan and Madonna. » | Nick Squires, Rome | Thursday, May 26, 2011
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Relics held at Church of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem: The Church of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem – known in Italian as Santa Croce in Gerusalemme – holds some of the Roman Catholic Church's most prized relics. » | Nick Squires, Rome | Thursday, May 26, 2011
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: History of the Church of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem: The history of the Church of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, one of Rome's best known basilicas, stretches back nearly 2,000 years. » | Nick Squires, Rome | Thursday, May 26, 2011
