Vati-Con Scandal

Vati-Con is the nickname given to a scandal involving Italian real estate developer Raffaello Follieri, who is accused of misappropriating a $50 million investment [ [http://www.nypost.com/pagesixmag/issues/20080629/Inside+Story+Raffaello+Follieri "Inside Story: Raffaello Follieri"] , "New York Post", June 29 2008] from billionaire Ronald Burkle meant to buy up Roman Catholic churches in the United States. [ [http://natcath.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2006a/030306/030306a.php "Catholic real estate bonanza"] , "National Catholic Reporter", March 3 2006]

On July 15, 2008, Bishop Joseph Anthony Galante of the Diocese of Camden, New Jersey, was implicated in the scandal by a "New York Post" article titled "A Deal with the Devil" that revealed that Follieri had bought Galante's beach house for $400,000 in 2007 shortly after Galante began the study that resulted in his 2008 announcement to sell off half of the Diocese's church properties. [ [http://www.nypost.com/seven/07152008/news/regionalnews/a_deal_with_the_devil_119940.htm "A Deal with the Devil"] , "New York Post", July 18 2008] [ [http://www.savestmarys.net/2008/07/bishop-galante-and-follieri.html "A look at Bishop Galante's relationship with Follieri"] , "Save St Mary's", July 18 2008] Following disclosure of the bishop's involvement in Vati-Con, the Council of Parishes of Southern New Jersey demanded "a complete halt to the Bishop’s planned church closure program." [ [http://www.councilofparishes.net/profiles/blog/show?id=2143227%3ABlogPost%3A1621 "Council of Parishes Press Release in Response to NY Post Article"] , "Council of Parishes of Southern New Jersey", July 15 2008]

On July 24, 2008, the " New York Daily News" reported that in a second raid of Follieri's apartment in New York City, the FBI had confiscated the private journals of Follieri's former girlfriend, actress Anne Hathaway, as part of their ongoing investigation into the scandal. Despite her years-long relationship with Follieri and the seizing of her diaries, Hathaway is currently not facing charges in regard to the scandal. [ [http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2008/07/24/2008-07-24_fbi_grabs_anne_hathaways_diaries.html FBI Grabs Anne Hathaway's diaries] ]

Follieri's political connections

Prior to his arrest, Follieri had established connections with several US political figures, including John McCain and members of Bill Clinton's entourage. [ [http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080929/berman_ames The McCain-Follieri Love Boat] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.gatheringgodsgifts.org/ Diocese of Camden Closure Plan]
* [http://www.councilofparishes.net/ Council of Parishes of Southern New Jersey]