Italian Catholic Church hit by homosexual 'casual sex' scandal

London, July 24 (ANI): The Italian Catholic Church has been hit by yet another gay scandal after the 'Panorama', a conservative weekly news magazine owned by the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, carried out a two week investigation and published photographs of three homosexual priests attending 'gay night clubs' and engaging in casual sex in the country.

"This was a two week investigation and was not aimed at creating a scandal but showing that a certain section of the clergy behaves very differently," Panorama editor Giorgio Mule said.

According to The Telegraph, an undercover journalist from Panorama, used a hidden camera to film interviews with three gay priests, who introduced the journalist to the gay clubs they apparently visit frequently. The journalist filmed their sexual encounters with strangers, including one in a church building.

Among them, includes a French priest named Paul who celebrated Mass in the morning before driving the two escorts he had hired to attend a party the night before to the airport, Panorama wrote.

"By day they are regular priests, complete with dog collar, but at night, it's off with the cassock as they take their place as perfectly integrated members of the Italian capital's gay scene," the paper quoted, a preview of the article sent out by Panorama, as saying.

The magazine described its investigation as "deeply disturbing" as it detailed how the priests, two Italians and a French, readily took part in gay events and had casual sex.

Meanwhile, The Catholic Church in Italy has ordered homosexual priests who are leading a double life to come out of the closet and leave priesthood.

The paper also states that although the Vatican did not comment on the Panorama investigation, a senior source has said that 'this is the usual silly season rubbish to attract readers during the quiet summer months'.

"There is no proof that the people involved are from the clergy," he added. (ANI)