A VATICAN priest, caught after a high-speed police chase through a red light district in Rome, allegedly told arresting officers:
You have no idea who I am. You don’t know who you are messing with.
According to this report, a court in Rome heard that Father Cesare Burgazzi, 51, then tried to drive his car at them.
Before he was arrested, Burgazzi, a priest who worked at the Vatican’s State Department and also a master of ceremonies at St Peter’s Basilica, led police on a high speed car chase which left three officers injured.
St Peter's Basilica in Rome
The priest said he “floored” his Ford Focus car after he mistook the plain clothes officers who tried to flag him down during a spot check as robbers.
During the 20-minute early hours chase – which was described in court as “like something from a Hollywood movie” – two police cars crashed and three police hurt.
Officers gave chase after Burgazzi was spotted driving slowly in the Valle Giulia, an area of Rome well known for prostitution and transsexuals. He was flagged down but instead drove off at high speed.
Burgazzi is accused of wounding, resisting arrest and failing to produce documents for the car or his identity when stopped.
His lawyer, Gianni Lostia, told the court:
My client is not a user of prostitutes or transsexuals – he did not have condoms in his car and he contests the police’s claim that the front seats were reclined.He was simply on his way home after a night out at a restaurant with priest friends. He thought the officers who hadtried to stop him were trying to rob him and he panicked and drove off.
Prosecutor Maria Bice Barborini asked the judge for an 18 month jail sentence while lawyers representing the injured officers said they were looking for 20,000 Euro damages for each of them.
The case has been adjourned until later this month for sentencing.
Hat tip: BarrieJohn
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
October 4th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Gives a whole new meaning to 'God speed'. Perhaps he mistook the area for a red see-the-light district.
October 4th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
As I said to Barry – I was immediately reminded of the old Eric and Ern line: "They said they were saving fallen women, so I said 'Save one for me, then!'"
October 4th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
At least some of those in the Vatican have pulses and are still alive!
October 4th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Re his alibi – do you think 'priest friends' could be a Vatican euphemism for call girls?
October 4th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
They should have waited to see which sex he chose. Why didn't they just lie low till they caught him in the act?. If he hadn't mangled a few cops I'd be betting that his lawyer would manage to get him of the hook.
October 4th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
"You don’t know who you are messing with." That would be Burgazzi's imaginary friend then.
October 4th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Sounds like the bishop of southwark!
October 4th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Do you think they leave their little cards in the confessionals instead of the telephone boxes, in Rome?
October 4th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Father Burgazzi's version of events does seem plausible. There is no reason why a Catholic priest should be deemed to be acting suspiciously in a red-light district.
One would expect to find such a pervert kerb-crawling outside a school or orphanage!
October 4th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
"Hic. Where am I ossifer"
That sounds like the Biship of Southwark!
October 4th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
No shargraves, Bishops of Southwark have to be GAY! Did you see that excerpt from the Life of Brian "debate" on the Monty Python programme last night? (I was hoping for more.) His Royal Holiness the Right Revolting Mervyn Stockwood sat there with a huge, tent-like dress on, fingering a cross the size of a dinner plate, and denouncing the "blasphemous" film, while everyone who knew anything about him knew that he was gay!! (He was later "outed" by OutRage because of his hypocrisy, though he had been fairly "pro-gay", it must be admitted, as a Bishop.)
October 4th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
For one moment there, never having heard of barryboys before, I thought that Barry was running an escort agency, unbeknownst to the rest of us!
October 4th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Ah! Now I see it. His defence will be that he was merely going to wind his window down and ask one of these nice young ladies whether she could give him directions to the nearest seminary!
October 4th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
I think shargraves may be referring to the present Bigot of Southwark, the Right Rev Tommy Butler, often found wandering around London in a drunken stupor.
Once after a piss-up at the Irish Embassy he was picked up by plod and claimed that his dishevelled state was a result of his having been mugged by imaginary assailants.
He never explained why his imaginary friend didn't come to his aid!
October 4th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
As every reader of barryboys.co.uk knows, you have to fold the seats down in the car to make it go faster. If he had done that he would have escaped!
I like how highly they rate the fact he had no condoms on him too. Shame all those brainwashed people spreading HIV around don't either.
October 4th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Of course he didn't have any condoms on him, Mike; he's a good Catholic, isn't he?
October 4th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
I know what he was referring to, remigius! The one who couldn't account for three hours of his life. (Well, we've all had nights like that, I'm sure!!)
October 4th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
"As every reader of barryboys.co.uk knows…"
Ah I get it. Catholic priests…sexy fenders!
October 4th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Thats nothing. Tommy's made-up mate apparently lost three whole days!
Officer – "Where were you between Good Friday and Chocolate Sunday"
Jebus – "Temporarily dead"
October 4th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
No barriejohn, not an Escort…a Ford Focus!
October 4th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Maybe Fr Burgazzi could use that in his defence. He wasn't carrying condoms cos he was looking an Escort that had recently had a new coil fitted.
October 4th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
How pathetic, when people decide that only priests are sex addicts or abusers. 95% of visitors to red light districts are married men……anyone chasing them? Or haven't they got enough money to be sued?
October 5th, 2009 at 12:17 am
I can see this being recreated in the next GTA game
October 5th, 2009 at 8:01 am
Father Ceare was rather bizarre
In his quest for carnal pleasure
He'd do the young girls get in his car
And then drive off at his leisure.
October 5th, 2009 at 8:02 am
Your comment is too funny for words, April!
October 5th, 2009 at 8:06 am
Or Wacky Races, perhaps (showing my age a bit there, I'm afraid!). "Paedo Priest" and "Priscilla Prozzie" – in the Lateran Limousine – would make a good pairing!!
October 5th, 2009 at 8:10 am
95% of visitors "married" men.Sounds like some married women are not doing enough to stop it!
OK bring it on I'm ready for the flak!
October 5th, 2009 at 8:17 am
Aye – that's the chap – he climbed into the back of a family car and started chucking the kids toys out – when the owner came out after hearing the alarm, and confronted him, he said "I'm the Bishop of Southwark. This is what I do!"
)
Ahhh – I've had many nights like that myself. But I manage not to damage childrens toys and break into peoples cars whilst announcing my advanced position in the church.
I usually just get a thump off the wife for snoring, and forget to turn off the downstairs lights….
October 5th, 2009 at 8:19 am
They could push a button on the dashboard to distribute a scatter of bibles out the back of the car to impede pursuers!
October 5th, 2009 at 8:43 am
It's a good job that Catholics aren't Christians.
Stuff like this would want to make me give up my belief in Jesus.
Now we know where all the money is going.
The catholic cult has a history of taking the money of poor widows in order to say masses for the dead (which do no good) and collecting the material possessions of nuns.
In Italy, the heart of papism, there is an often used saying that goes, "Without money, they don't sing the mass."
That is really pitiful on several fronts–1) mass is blasphemous and people who trust in it are hell-bound
2) there's no such thing as purgatory and ..
3) the gift of God is without price.
October 5th, 2009 at 8:43 am
It's a good job that Catholics aren't real Christians.
Stuff like this would want to make me give up my belief in Jesus.
Now we know where all the money is going.
The catholic cult has a history of taking the money of poor widows in order to say masses for the dead (which do no good) and collecting the material possessions of nuns.
In Italy, the heart of papism, there is an often used saying that goes, "Without money, they don't sing the mass."
That is really pitiful on several fronts–1) mass is blasphemous and people who trust in it are hell-bound
2) there's no such thing as purgatory and ..
3) the gift of God is without price.
October 5th, 2009 at 8:44 am
It's a good job that Catholics aren't real Christians.
Stuff like this would want to make me give up my belief in Jesus. (Peace on HIM).
Now we know where all the money is going.
The catholic cult has a history of taking the money of poor widows in order to say masses for the dead (which do no good) and collecting the material possessions of nuns.
In Italy, the heart of papism, there is an often used saying that goes, "Without money, they don't sing the mass."
That is really pitiful on several fronts–1) mass is blasphemous and people who trust in it are hell-bound
2) there's no such thing as purgatory and ..
3) the gift of God is without price.
October 5th, 2009 at 9:18 am
Timely words from Sister Talitha, as always! However, I think I should point out, in case there are any misunderstandings here (she is young, and not always as careful with her phraseology as she might be!), that although the gift of Gaaad is indeed without price, it does cost an awful lot of money to further the work of the Lord, especially when his servants have to travel great distances by Lear jet, and all contributions are gratefully received!! Amen – and don't forget that the Good Lord will reward you a hundredfold, my dear brothers and sisters!
October 5th, 2009 at 9:24 am
Scattering a few bones should do the trick – they've got more of them than they seem to know what to do with! ("Curses – foiled again," says Dick Dastardly!!)
October 5th, 2009 at 9:32 am
PS Did everyone read that hilarious story last week, which was highlighted on this site and others, about Benny the Hinn's failure to get into Britain to raise more funds – I mean to do the Lord's work, of course! look it up if you missed it – I very nearly wet myself again!!
October 5th, 2009 at 9:32 am
PS Did everyone read that hilarious story last week, which was highlighted on this site and others, about Benny the Hinn's failure to get into Britain to raise more funds – I mean to do the Lord's work, of course! Look it up if you missed it – I very nearly wet myself again!!
October 5th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
"a user of prostitutes or transsexuals"
As a transsexual woman, I totally say that based on all the things that the Catholic church hides, such as laundering Nazi gold, the moving and hiding of child molesters and the things that we do not know about, they are denying this too. Although, I do hate the fact that people like this "use" transsexuals, I have to say that this man very likely used these poor women.
October 5th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
'95%' also sounds like a fair estimate for the amount of Catholic priests who got away with committing abuse.
October 5th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
So does anyone think he told his "confessor" about this? How much pennance has he to do?
October 5th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Bloody hell are you married to my wife as well?