Italian ecclesiastic, a Roman Catholic Cardinal and archbishop of Naples, one of Italy’s leading churchmen. His brother, Mario Lucio Giordano, was arrested on 8/20/1998 for loan sharking and extortion, and the cardinal was under investigation for the same charges, plus associating with criminals. Dozens of police searched the cardinal’s offices and the Holy See is following the case but without public comment.
On 11/18/1999, Italian prosecutors officially requested the indictment of Cardinal Giordano for his alleged involvement in the illegal loan operation, following a two-year investigation. Giordano, a popular cleric known for his blasts against usury, maintains his innocence. He said that he had simply given his brother blank checks to help him out of financial straits.
The cardinal faced a trial that began 6/17/2000 on several counts relating to usury, criminal association and illegal appropriation of a fortune in church funds. Of the 19 defendants, six were dismissed, including the cardinal’s brother Mario. Prosecutors allege the cardinal supplied about $800,000 to finance a loan-sharking ring run by his brother and appropriated another roughly $500,000 in church funds. After the presentation of evidence, the case was adjourned to July 3. Giordano’s supporters declare that prosecutors are trying to embarrass the church.
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