Go here to read the story.
Another official told The Pillar that after Capella’s release from prison, the priest “had to go somewhere, and has to do something” and that allowing him to resume work in the secretariat was seen as “a kind of Christian charity.”
“What else could he do?” the official said. “There should be a scope for reasonable mercy — and at least up to a point it was reasonable in this case. He was not exercising some public ministry, he had no contact with minors, he was working quietly and usefully, and he was full of contrition for what he had done. There was no scandal.”
Both officials said the initial understanding was that Capella would work as a speechwriter and contribute to the drafting of reports without official designation, office, or rank. But something appears to have recently changed, with the 2025 edition of the Annuario Pontificio listing the priest formally among the officials of the diplomatic section.
Capella is classed among the minutanti, or senior clerks, with his name appearing alongside several section heads in the department.
One can only conclude that powerful men at the Vatican have no problem with pedophilia, and all of the Vatican’s promises to rid the clergy of pedophiles is so much hokum for those they consider rubes in the pews. Christ is probably preparing lots of millstones about now.
Maybe a monastery in some less than sunny place?
Rupnik, BTW, is still free to move about among us.
Laicization or else a lifetime of ora et labora in a monastery would have been a good start. That would be real charity. This isn’t.
I’m with prepping the millstones.
What else could he do? He could pull trash at the Vatican during day and go back to his cell at night? Or, stay in prison? There are lots of options
“There should be a scope for reasonable mercy“ – what mercy was shown to the innocent children he was viewing? The only mercy is justice. And justice is jail. And prisoners hate paedophiles…
Well, the article says he was allowed to return to work in 2023, so we can chalk this one up to Francis too. Still not happy about all the foot dragging by the new Pope on all these perverts in active ministry. Every day that goes by makes him appear more complicit. But hey, let’s jingle the trad Mass keys again … That’ll distract the faithful. Consider the can kicked.
He certainly has to go somewhere. There are only three cells in the Vatican jail. Given that he’s not extraordinary, the next occupant couldn’t be kept waiting.
Allow me to add, these curial types say “quo justitia” with the same skepticism as Pilate’s “quo veritas,” as of it is a concept upon which they completely lack influence. May the Lord’s mercy be upon them for they know not what they do.
Never a concern over the victim by these “officials” at the Vatican, they don’t care. Like friends of a drunk driver who killed someone “Oh, I feel sorry for him that he has that to deal with.” Always the concern for the perpetrator, even canon law protects these criminals.
There are only three cells in the Vatican jail.
Build more.
Fr. James Jackson is in prison for the same offence. Seems like corrupt individuals continue to be welcomed in the Vatican.
What else could he do?
I should think solitary confinement would make more sense.
Keep him away from children, to avoid danger to them. Keep him away from other inmates, to avoid danger to him.
Maybe a good reminder of why the term “penitentiary” exists.
“Build more.”
I initially liked this idea … Then I realized how lucky Cardinal Burke is that Francis didn’t think of it.
The consistently read worthy Phil Lawler has an enlightening piece on this:
In the time of Pope Pius V—that’s Saint Pius V, remember—a priest found guilty of such an appalling offense would have been handed over to the state for punishment, probably for execution. Say what you like about the moral liceity of the death penalty; at least that arrangement left no doubt about the Church’s attitude toward sexual depravity.
One scary aspect of this story is that “Father” Capella’s (only!) 5-year sentence was actually increased to 5 years because of the immense volume of child porn in his possession.
Leo will have to divert the Tiber to clean out the Vatican Stables.