Thirtieth hearing today in the Vatican as part of the trial on the management of the funds of the Secretariat of State. And Cardinal Angelo Becciu wanted to make a long spontaneous declaration to say first of all that " not even a penny" ended up in his brother's pockets , that he himself did not commit "any crime", without denying his "interest" to have 600 thousand euros of subsidies from the CEI to Caritas in Ozieri, then donated to the Spes Cooperative, led by Antonino Becciu. "I helped about seventy people to get a job: I'm not ashamed of having worked hard to obtain funding for a social institution, on the contrary I'm proud of it", said the high prelate who, in relation to what was said by the Gendarmerie Commissioner Stefano De Santis reiterated: “ It is normal practice in the Church to help each other . Let's remember: we are not a company or even a municipal office, where every act is regulated by the law. No! In the Church the law of love and disinterest reigns, where legalism must not clip the wings of the creative spirit "." Helping to create good works is the most that a Christian, a priest and even more a Bishop must do ", He continued. And in the specific case, "I had treasured the advice of the then Secretary of the CEI, Monsignor Nunzio Galantino, who one day told me 'encourage your bishop and other bishops to ask for help for social works because there are sums available for these purposes' "." Here however - continued Becciu - the question I think we must ask ourselves is another: but the money received by the CEI was used in compliance with their institutional purpose, yes or no? They had been asked for a bakery: does the bakery exist? Is it working yes or no? There are sixteen employees: yes or no? Did the managers report what they received to the CEI, yes or no? Why have the managers of the Cooperative never received any reminder from the CEI, much less a reprimand? And this is regardless of the fact that I never took care of it. In no form ".
Becciu said again: "I do not know if I can replace my lawyers and ask Mr. De Santis a question: we know well that you have made checks on the various bank accounts of the diocese of Ozieri and you have also done them on my bank accounts, on those of my brothers and especially my brother Antonino. Tell us: have you ever found an irregular entry in all these accounts? Why doesn't he say in front of everyone how much money he found in my brother's account, Tonino? Say it! I authorize you to say so! ". According to the Sardinian cardinal," it is amply proven that, despite everything that has been said about the so-called mixed account, the CEI and the National Caritas have not stopped paying their subsidies to this account. A sign that those of the Caritas of Ozieri have always reported what they have received up to the last cent and the national organizations have never had anything to say about their work ".
The account in question "had been opened by the director of Caritas upon delegation of the bishop of the time and that the other successive bishops were aware of it". And speaking of the director of Caritas, " it is not my fault if he is my cousin and if he was appointed in 2003 , when I was Nuncio in Angola, thus far removed from the issues of the diocese of Ozieri".
As for the chapter on Cecilia Marogna , the cardinal denied having been aware of the personal expenses of the former Sardinian manager with money obtained from the Secretariat of State. Warned by Monsignor Perlasca of what the magistrates said on this aspect, "I was disappointed" because "I was not at all aware that money had begun to be spent on that sum destined for specific purposes. I was irritated and promised myself to clarify immediately with the Lady . Which I did and she totally assured me that it was not true. I did not fail to tell her that if she drew from that money not for the agreed operations, she absolutely had to put it back in place. "
(Unioneonline / ss)