To reply briefly to the points in your synopsis, 'orientstar':-
1) No he wasn't.
2) No he didn't.
3) He interpreted his obedience in line with the Order's constitution (which please see).
4) Yes, he had connections in the Vatican. Obviously.
5) The alleged 'opaque financial dealings' are counterbalanced by allegations of equally 'opaque' dealings by Festing. Unseemliness on both sides.
As for the 'end result':-
6) Yes and No.
7) Unproven. Time will tell.
8) The whole 'sovereignty' thing has been interesting, hasn't it? While the Order may have this sovereignty, even in international law, the fact of the matter is that the Order was created and has always existed in order to serve the Church, and in obedience (loyalty) to the Pope. See also yesterday's 'Declaration'.
9) BTW, it is not 'the Vatican' which has sovereignty. Wheels within wheels.
Mercy indeed.