Here’s another alarming perspective on the Vatican “trial of the century,” provided by Ed Condon of The Pillar, who has set the standard for coverage of the financial shenanigans.

It’s not JUST that the Vatican prosecutors may see their entire case collapse, and five years of high-profile investigation go for naught. It’s worse than that. If the convictions in the Vatican trial are set aside, other legal cases in other jurisdictions could result in even more adverse consequences, adding to the costs of the real-estate boondoggle.

Already, Swiss prosecutors are dropping a case that might have favored the Vatican, because the Vatican is declining to make key witnesses available.