Samuel A. Greene Jr., the founder of a monastery that closed amid scandal over the alleged sexual abuse of novice monks and a fraudulent weeping Virgin Mary painting, has died.

One of five monks facing charges of sexually abusing children told authorities that an inner circle of monks at the monastery there had sex with one another, smoked marijuana and used an eyedropper to produce fake tears on a Virgin Mary icon.

Self-styled monks face new charges after child-sex cases in '99

BLANCO — The state is trying to seize Christ of the Hills Monastery, claiming in court filings that the religious enclave is "contraband" because it was used in the commission of money laundering, theft, fraud and child molestation offenses.

(CBS 42) BLANCO COUNTY -- There are new allegations swirling around an already troubled Hill Country monastery.

JOHNSON CITY, Texas Jul 31, 2006 (AP)— Four monks pleaded not guilty to charges alleging a boy was sexually assaulted at a Texas monastery that draws thousands of visitors every year, officials said Monday.

Christ of the Hills has been the focus of numerous sexual assault claims.

Law enforcement officials raided a hilltop monastery near Blanco in Central Texas on Tuesday morning after getting indictments accusing five monks of sexually assaulting a boy there about 13 years ago, officials said.