THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Vatican has been accused of censorship after a group of cardinals were told to stop talking to the media about the process of electing a new Pope.
In the past week American cardinals have given several briefings to journalists in Rome to discuss the challenges facing the Roman Catholic Church and how the next pontiff might tackle them, in a refreshing break from the Vatican's rather staid press conferences.
In recent days the Americans have called for the reform of the Roman Curia, the governing body of the Church, which has earned a reputation as a hotbed of professional jealousy, turf wars, nepotism and corruption.
But the briefings were scrapped and the Americans gagged after cardinals from other countries expressed fears of negative publicity and indiscretions relating to the conclave, the highly secretive election in the Sistine Chapel by which a new pontiff will be chosen.
The American cardinals, through the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, said that concern had been expressed "about leaks of confidential proceedings reported in Italian newspapers."
The ban on interviews came after the Italian press reported that there were arguments between American and German cardinals on one side and Italians on the other during the pre-conclave talks which are going on this week. » | Nick Squires, Vatican City | Wednesday, March 06, 2013
