Catholic Culture, Phil Lawler:
As a 13-year-old chess prodigy, Bobby Fischer turned in a performance that was described by an excited observer as “the game of the century.” The title stuck, but it was undeserved. The game was not hard-fought; it was over fairly quickly. With a few brilliant moves, the future world champion routed a veteran grandmaster who had underestimated his young opponent’s enormous resources as a tactician.
The Vatican’s “trial of the century” is a similar case. In the financial-misconduct trial that is now finally drawing to a close, Vatican prosecutors appear to have underestimated the strength of the arguments that the defense could present—both before the Vatican tribunal and in the court of public opinion. The prosecution may yet secure a guilty verdict against the most prominent defendant, Cardinal Angelo Becciu, and/or some of the nine other defendants charged with a variety of criminal offenses. But any conviction(s) will probably be appealed. At best the prosecution can hope for a Pyrrhic victory. Continue reading here.
