But this one beats the destroyed rectory story:

A Franciscan priest famous in Italy for the religious conversion of a leading porn star was in custody last night on charges of sexual harassment after a nun alleged that she was forced to take part in orgies at his monastery.

Fr Francesco Bisceglia, 68, and his deputy Antonio Gaudio, 39, were arrested yesterday after the unnamed sister made a police complaint against them.

Italian police also seized copies of videotapes allegedly filmed inside a Franciscan community centre at Cosenza in Calabria.

According to the Italian media, police had been tapping Fr Bisceglia’s telephone for several weeks prior to the arrest and there were also other witnesses who may testify against him.

"I feel persecuted like Jesus," the priest, known in Italy as Fr Fidele, said on his arrest. "It is all evidence fabricated against me. She [the nun] is mad."

The nun, who the Italian newspaper La Repubblica said had passed psychiatric tests, also claimed that she was filmed being