Last night, the story broke. This morning, the Vatican says that those rumors about gay orgies, photographs of priests having gay sex used as blackmail, and priests in drag are just "gossip." Here's the BBC:

The Vatican's chief spokesperson has criticised the media for reporting "misinformation" about the Church.

Father Federico Lombardi said some were trying to profit from a time of disorientation in the Catholic Church to spread "gossip" and "slander"..."Whoever has money, sex and power at the forefront of their mind sees the world through these parameters and cannot see beyond, even when looking at the Church," he said.

"Their view cannot look to the heights or go in-depth to understand the spiritual dimensions and motivations of existence," he added.

Well! That clears everything up. How dare those dirty atheists pretend the church has ever been motivated by money, sex, or power? That has obviously never been the case, ever. Can we just take a moment and try out a mental exercise here? Imagine that Lindsay Lohan is in the middle of a scandal. Now imagine that Lindsay Lohan sends a text message to TMZ reporters that accuses the media of not "look[ing] to the heights or go[ing] in-depth to understand the spiritual dimensions and motivations of existence." Sounds like bunch of made-up self-important horseshit, doesn't it? Now pretend it's Tom Cruise, issuing a statement through the Church of Scientology. Sounds like someone desperate to change the conversation, doesn't it?

The thing is, if the story is true, there are male prostitutes out there who have tried to blackmail the church with photos. If the church is correct and these rumors are just rumors, this whole thing will blow over. But if any of this is real, it's not going to stay covered up for long.