"In terms of religious relativism, this was the equivalent of leveling charges against rabbis during Hanukah, or against clerics during Ramadan." Sorry but the legitimacy of an author can be questioned when he compared the significance of Easter in Christianity to the significance of Hanukah (a relatively insignificant holiday) in Judaism. Compare it to Passover or Yom Kippur, not Hanukah.

The Catholic Church has used its power in Ireland to cover up numerous scandals involving Catholic priests sexually molesting children. When the story finally became public investigations showed such abuse had been going on for at least fifty years. And of course its not only Ireland but the USA and Germany and many other countries. And there is no why now question. In Ireland the scandal has been public knowledge for years. As to the Pope. The scale of the abuse and the long period of time over which it occurred meant that Vatican officials where involved in the cover up. The rigid hierarchy of the Catholic Church meant that the officials had been sanctioned in these activities. Consequently one Pope at least sanctioned the covering up of child sexual abuse by Catholic clergy.

This has nothing to do with timing.This has everything to do with the Vatican covering up extensive Child Rape by its clergy. I am sure the children abused are far more concerned that the Vatican and the Pope himself were involved in silencing the victims. The fact that this institution still calls itself the "Holy" See is a disgrace. These people need criminal investigations and punishment. There is hardly a crime worse than raping a child.

It nonetheless remains that the age of (sexual) consent in the Vatican is 12 years of age. The timing however does point to a carefully planned campaign to take down Benny, for better or worse. Is it of Israeli inspiration? I know not but Benny has been a touch supportive of Palestine and Palestinians.