[wmfights]

The RCs in the United States are separately incorporated in each and every state (where there's at least one bishop).

In the end the Vatican is an internationally recognized state.

I'm assuming that the Bishops are members of that internationally recognized state and are accountable to it. If so wouldn't that state be liable for their actions?

[muawiyah]

The folks at the Vatican are, in part, "part" of the state.

You know this thing goes way back ~ centuries even ~ to a time when the Vatican held vast tracts of land in Italy.

You should read the concordant and check out all its provisions. I'm sure it's on the internet.

The bishops, however, are merely part of the hierarchy of a religious body ~ not a state. My own church has very little hierarchy ~ a church board ~ Catholic bishops do pretty much the same thing, plus they hold title to the property of the local diocese.

There are people who'd like to milk the entire Catholic church for the misdeeds of a handful of perverts in the United States ~ but it's not likely they'll ever get a chance to do that.

[vladimir998]

You wrote:

“I’m assuming that the Bishops are members of that internationally recognized state and are accountable to it.”

And that’s why you should not assume things. You are completely wrong. Except for a tiny handful of Vatican officials, bishops are not “members” of any state other than the one they come from. Those same men are accountable to the Pope, but are also accountable to the laws of the lands they come from.

“If so wouldn’t that state be liable for their actions?”

Then sue Massachusetts!