Will Belgian Abuse Victims Sue Vatican?

[_Abyssinia]

Lawyers acting on behalf of Belgian clerical abuse victims say they intend to sue the Vatican, despite the bishops of Belgium agreeing to compensate abuse survivors only two days ago.

The legal team — working on behalf of about 70 victims — claims that the Vatican did not intervene, even when it learned of the sexual scandals in the Belgian Church.

“There were instructions from the Pope that said those things had to be kept secret and silent,” claimed lawyer Christine Mussche at a news conference in the Belgian city of Ghent June 1.

Read more: ncregister.com/daily-news/will-belgian-abuse-victims-sue-vatican/#ixzz1OADrp9ot

 

[Inquiringperson]

Has anyone ever sued a country successfully?

 

[Dale_M]

Has anyone ever sued a country successfully?

I’m not sure. However, the Vatican City State is legally separate from the Holy See, and it is the Holy See which is being sued.
google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hYRLnAfgo7QDm-d74RsSOBNETA8w?docId=CNG.a80f514b78e2e5f2cb0d04fa1f6668a1.521

Since the pope is head of the Vatican City State, he is thought to have diplomatic immunity. Other officials in the Holy See, however, may be summoned to testify.

 

[The_Old_Medic]

The Holy See IS the State of the Vatican. Every Cardinal, every staff member and the Pope have diplomatic immunity. And, the Vatican is not a part of the European Union, so their rules do not apply to the Vatican.

This is just another bunch of lawyers determined to destroy the Church.

 

[Dale_M]

The Holy See IS the State of the Vatican…

That isn’t correct.

Vatican City State was founded following the signing of the Lateran Pacts between the Holy See and Italy on February 11th 1929. These were ratified on June 7th 1929. Its nature as a sovereign State distinct from the Holy See is universally recognized under international law.

vaticanstate.va/EN/State_and_Government/General_informations/Origins_and_Nature.htm

However, the issue of diplomatic immunity for officials of the Holy See could be contested.

The term “Holy See” refers to the composite of the authority, jurisdiction, and sovereignty vested in the Pope and his advisers to direct the worldwide Catholic Church. As the “central government” of the Catholic Church, the Holy See has a legal status that allows it to enter into treaties as the juridical equal of a state and to send and receive diplomatic representatives. The Holy See has formal diplomatic relations with 176 nations, including the United States and some predominantly Muslim countries.

state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3819.htm

I suppose the question of immunity would depend on who was being summoned and what functions have they performed. But such immunity wouldn’t apply to everyone in the Holy See.