Supreme Court Allows Vatican Sex Abuse Case to Go Forward

[CoffeeHound]

And the Vatican can remove both a Bishop and Priest. Ultimately, the Vatican is in charge; not the Bishop.

Being able to hire and fire doesn’t make someone your employee.

 

[Usbek_de_Perse]

There are, apparently, instances where the US judicial system does have jurisdiction, such as when, following the toppling of the Shah of Iran and the institution of Khomeini’s regime, Iranian bank assets in the US were frozen to pay US property claims. I think there are a few other such instances in recent history.

Calling the Vatican a “sovereign foreign power” is a bit of a stretch. A foreign “city-state” perhaps, but a “power”? It is an accident of history that one religious organization has managed to obtain for itself sovereign powers. No other religious organization in the world has such a status. I don’t begrudge this, but it is an anomoly. One strange aspect of this is that countries like Iran have embassies to the Vatican. You can bet that that embassy is up to no good under the cover of diplomatic immunity.

And in any case, SCOTUS remanded the case to the trial court. They might become involved if there are actual damages assessed. This was not intended to be their final word should the Vatican actually be assessed for damages.

I doubt the Vatican is going to tell SCOTUS “what to do with their ruling”. The Vatican has learned of late that there are precious few places where the sun don’t shine.

Since when does the US Supreme Court have jurisdiction over a sovereign foreign power? I hope the Vatican properly tells the US Supreme Court what to do with their ruling and unless the rest of the international powers want to open a real Pandora’s Box, they better support the Vatican.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

This decision opens up an interesting precedent for the U.S. being sued in a foreign court and its assets abroad seized for perceived injustice. I wonder how long it will be until this happens.

I wonder if that’s not their intent all along.

 

[raikou]

I think this is one graphic way how we can see that every personal sin damages the entire Church.

I don’t know what an employer-employee relationship is to the US law, but I think the power to “hire” or “fire” doesn’t necessarily mean that.Can one charge the President or the State if one of its appointed secretaries commit a crime? Considering that this definition can vary from nation to nation, isn’t it arrogant to use one’s legal measuring stick against a totally new and sovereign entity?

As for now, the only defense I can contribute is the daily masses and rosaries I “hurl” at attackers of the Church. Haven’t heard of weapons stronger than these.

Nations rise and fall, the Church remains. King of kings, be our defense.