You couldn't make it up dept. no.79: perhaps he should have tried elsewhere

[fpb]

A man in the dress of a priest and with all the right documents offered himself to the Vatican authorities for confessional duty in St.Peter's (where there are dozens of confessionals active at all times, in several languages). However, the Vatican security men, used to priests of all kinds and colours, smelled something funny about the volunteer. A quick check with the Italian police revealed that the man was a faker who had already been caught on several occasions.

Comments

[starshipcat.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering whether he's in need of mental help, because I can't come up with any logical motive for his actions. Most of the cases of fake priests/preachers with which I'm familiar have been people drumming up support for non-existent charities and missionary work, which they then pocketed. But hearing confessions just doesn't offer that sort of opportunity -- maybe he could weasel information out of some unwitting penitent that could be used for identity theft, but it seems more likely to me that he's trying to live out some kind of fantasy of being a priest, especially given that he's been caught repeatedly. Generally a con artist keeps moving, particularly after being caught.

[rfachir.livejournal.com]

I think he has a boredom fetish. People are boring - especially the scandalous ones.

[eliskimo.livejournal.com]

Or maybe he's just lonely. That could be because of a mental problem, or just lack of social skills. He can't find people to talk to him as himself so he assumes an identity where he can put himself in a position where people, even anonymous people, will talk to him.

The story actually makes me rather sad in a "Eleanor Rigby" kind of way.