If you thought this kind of thing only happens in trashy best-seller fiction of the Dan Brown variety, think again! Here's a true story of high-stakes Vatican intrigue unfolding before our very eyes which points to corruption at the highest levels of the Holy See. Watch the short news clip by clicking on the link (embedding was not allowed for this video), and answer the questions:
http://youtu.be/CqjGbYK3LLQ.........................................................................
Comprehension Questions:
1. What are two functions of the Pope's butler cited in the beginning of the report?
2. What type of behaviour is being exposed at the Vatican?
3. What is the 'papal punchline,' and what genre of fiction is this a reference to? (How would you categorize the tone of the reporter at this stage?)
4. The butler is accused of __________________________ the Pope. (What is the noun form of this verb? (Used in the expression 'an act of ____________')
5. What is the incriminating evidence which has placed the butler under suspicion?
6. How did the butler supposedly benefit from stealing the documents?
7. What sort of intrigues do the documents expose?
8. Where is the butler now? ...........................................................................
Discussion Questions:
1. Do you think the scandal goes deeper than the butler? Why/why not?
2. Can you trust butlers? Why do butlers get such a bad rap?
3. Do you think the Vatican is held to a higher standard than other institutions, i.e., do we expect Vatican officials to be less corruptible than politicians?
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