Vatican denies rentboy claims
14/05/2006 17:37  - (SA)  

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Rome - The Vatican denied on Sunday that a prelate employed in its administration had been arrested while looking for a male or a transsexual prostitute in a sleazy area of Rome.

Police said on Saturday they had stopped the cleric at dawn last Thursday when he was found allegedly behaving oddly in an area known for male prostitution.

An official statement from the Vatican media department said: "Information disseminated this morning by newspapers concerning a cleric in service at the Vatican are totally without foundation."

The statement also threatened legal action against "those who have contributed to defaming the good reputation of the official".

The identity of the cleric was not released.

Ansa news agency reported on Saturday that the 48-year-old prelate - identified only by the initials CB - works in the office of the secretary of state, the equivalent of the seat of government of the Roman Catholic Church.

Italian newspapers also reported on Sunday that the man had allegedly attempted to resist when police officers sought to identify him.

- AFP

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