Frontline Season 1 Episode 5
Frontline
Season 1

Ep 5. God's Banker

  • TV-G
  • February 14, 1983
  • 24 min
  • 8.3  (6)

Frontline is a documentary series that takes an in-depth look at current events and pressing issues. In season 1 episode 5, entitled "God's Banker," the focus is on the Vatican Bank, also known as the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR). The episode explores the inner workings of the bank, its close ties to the Catholic Church, and the controversies and scandals that have plagued it over the years.

The episode begins by explaining the history of the Vatican Bank. The institution was founded in 1942 to manage the Vatican's finances, including its charitable activities and the salaries of its employees. The bank is famously secretive, and for many years it was exempt from financial regulations and oversight by the Italian government.

Over the years, the Vatican Bank has been involved in a number of scandals. In the 1970s, it was implicated in a fraud scheme involving the collapse of Italy's largest private bank. In the 1980s, it was found to have laundered money for the Mafia. And in the 1990s, it was accused of funneling funds to Croatian nationalists during the Balkan wars.

In recent years, the Vatican has made efforts to reform the bank and bring it into line with international financial standards. But the process has been slow and complicated by continuing controversies. The episode explores some of the ongoing challenges faced by the bank, including accusations of money laundering, the mysterious death of a Vatican employee, and the difficulties of balancing transparency with the need for confidentiality.

Throughout the episode, Frontline interviews a number of experts and insiders, including former Vatican Bank employees, financial journalists, and members of the clergy. They provide a range of perspectives on the bank and its role in the Catholic Church, as well as on the broader issues of financial ethics and institutional responsibility.

Ultimately, "God's Banker" is a sobering look at one of the most secretive and powerful financial institutions in the world. It raises important questions about the relationship between church and state, the role of money in modern society, and the need for greater transparency and accountability in global finance. For anyone interested in the inner workings of the Vatican and the challenges facing the Catholic Church today, this episode is definitely worth watching.

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Description
  • First Aired
    February 14, 1983
  • Content Rating
    TV-G
  • Runtime
    24 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    8.3  (6)