World affairs

An Italian priest has got a lot of explaining to do after he told his flock of parishioners that he was going on a spiritual retreat, only for it to be revealed that he was actually on the capsized Costa Concordia cruise ship.

The Irish Independent reports that Father Massimo Donghi told the devoted members of his congregation that he was heading off for a week of contemplation, prayer and sanctity, but instead the fibbing priest boarded the luxury liner for a first-class cruise of the Mediterranean ports.

He was found out when his nephew, who joined him on the cruise, posted assurances to family and friends on Facebook that both he and his uncle has survived the Costa Concordia disaster and were alive and well.

The nephew posted on Facebook that he, his uncle and the priest’s elderly mother had managed to hop into lifeboats as the boat ran aground.

Father Donghi, who joined the priesthood after studying theological seminary in Milan, will have to explain himself and why he chose to lie to his parish, Besana Brianza, located in northern Italy.

Church-goers believed that the priest had signed himself up for a week of religious devotion and simple living, rather than a luxury cruise.

Speaking to an Italian news magazine, the priest said: “What do you want me to say? I have nothing to add. I’m okay although I’m still a bit in shock. I will talk to my parishioners in church.”

“The judgement of others is not important to me,” he added.

Well that’s good, because Jesus probably won’t be too happy about this one…