Vatican bank

• (RNS) The scandal-plagued Vatican Bank has a long way to go in order to comply with international standards for independent oversight and financial transparency, according to a report from European officials released Wednesday (July 18).
(Huffington Post)
• Not even a 50 million euro gift to the pope from the Vatican bank and increased donations from dioceses and religious orders could offset the expenses and poor investment returns, the Vatican said in its annual financial report.
(CBS News)
• The Vatican has passed a key European financial transparency test but received poor grades for the effectiveness of its new financial watchdog agency and the ability of its bank to track suspicious transactions.
(Shropshire Star)
• The Holy Sees budget benefited from a $61 million (49 million euros) contribution from the Institute for the Works of Religion, the Vatican Bank.
(Houston Chronicle)
• Donations were also up for the year, as were contributions from dioceses and the Vatican Bank. Expenses related to media were primarily responsible for the deficit. The Vatican publishes its own newspaper and operates radio and television stations.
(Examiner)
• The figure comes despite bigger donations from dioceses around the world and the Vatican banks $62 million donation to the pope. Officials say weak markets—particularly in real estate—as well as high employee and media costs cut into the budget.
(Newser)
• Riding the coattails of history, the Vatican remains a cesspit of money-laundering. The banks modus operandi is to remain shrouded in mystery, keeping everything possible away from public light.
(OpEdNews.com)