Monday, June 28, 2010

Vatican's appeal for immunity over sex abuse case rejected
By Craig McMurtrie

The United States Supreme Court has rejected a Vatican bid for legal immunity over the sexual abuse of children by a priest in the US. [Holy See v. John Doe, 09-1.]
America's highest court refused to hear a Vatican appeal for sovereign immunity over a case involving a priest accused of sexually abusing children.
Father Andrew Ronan, who transferred from Northern Ireland to Chicago and then Portland, Oregon, died in 1992 and left behind a trail of abuse cases in the parishes he was assigned to.
A man identified only as John Doe says he was abused in 1965.
His lawsuit holds the Roman Catholic Church responsible as Father Ronan's employer.
The US Supreme Court rejection of the Vatican appeal means the lawsuit, first filed eight years ago, can now proceed.

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