Father Giancarlo Gatto, the
parish priest at the Madonna delle Grazie sanctuary in Lago,
near Cosenza, allegedly took 30,000 euros worth of gold that was
part of the depiction of Mary held by the sanctuary and sold it
without ecclesiastical authorities' permission.
Gatto said he sold the gold to try to pay off parish debt.
Archbishop Mons. Francesco Nolè, alerted to the theft by some
parishioners, has ordered an investigation and said Gatto needs
to publicly apologise to the community.
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