Pope Has Immunity In Abuse Trials: Vatican

http://news.yahoo.com/ ^ | April 1,2010 | Philip Pullella

[Biggirl]

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Benedict, accused by victims' lawyers of being ultimately responsible for a cover-up of sexual abuse of children by priests, cannot be called to testify at any trial because he has immunity as a head of state, a top Vatican legal official said on Thursday. The interview with Giuseppe dalla Torre, head of the Vatican's tribunal, was published in Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper as Pope Benedict began Holy Thursday services in St Peter's Basilica and Catholics marked the most solemn week of the liturgical calendar, culminating on Sunday in Easter Day.

[Biggirl]

God Bless Pope Benedict XVI!

[vladimir998]

This will outrage the anti-Catholics here, but it’s true: the pope has immunity.

[ConservativeMind]

Who couldn’t see this one coming. Any one who makes it to that position can basically rape kids and be immune.

[Pyro7480]

Let’s be clear here: yes or no, is Pope Benedict XVI a child molester?

[ConservativeMind]

I do not have enough knowledge to say so, either way. You don’t, either.

[Pyro7480]

You certainly seem to imply it: Any one who makes it to that position can basically rape kids and be immune.

[flowerplough]

cannot be called to testify at any trial because he has immunity as a head of state, just like Richard Nixon and Wiggling-Willy Clinton, eh?

[DemonDeac]

Corruption and the idea of officials being above the law is nothing new in that particular church.

[B.Lyle]

Sweet! Let’s all become heads of state!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Hutt_River

[vladimir998]

Anti-Catholics will, in fact, argue like liberals at the drop of a hat. Of course they’ll imply that the Pope is a child molestor even though there’s no reason at all to believe he is.

[vladimir998]

Stupidity and lying are nothing new among the Church’s enemies either.

[ConservativeMind]

In the spirit of cooperation, I will rephrase my prior comment:

Who couldn’t see this one coming. Any one who makes it to that position can basically have sex with kittens and be immune.

[Persevero]

I don’t think that about the Pope, but I am uncomfortable about any head of state being above the law.

I think laws have to apply to everyone or they are unjust.

[srweaver]

In other words, the pope is above the law.

[ArrogantBustard]

Let's suppose a hypothetical President of the United States has the temerity to "deal with" Iran's nuclear program in an effective manner. Perhaps you'd like Iran to be able to sue or prosecute the President of the United States?

We wouldn't want any heads of state to be above the law ...

[srweaver]

And, just for comparison purposes, perhaps we should ask if Jesus, the son of God (or God the Son) put himself above the law.

[Guyin4Os]

This will outrage the anti-Catholics here, but it’s true: the pope has immunity.

It's sad that the Pope's only defense for such crimes is that he "has immunity." As the so-called "Vicar of Christ" on Earth, one would expect a little more integrity than that.

[vladimir998]

All heads of state are immune to foreign civil suits (and probably criminal actions too).

[Persevero]

I am speaking of criminal law.

A President ordering a military strike doesn’t break any law that I know of.

[vladimir998]

You wrote:

“And, just for comparison purposes, perhaps we should ask if Jesus, the son of God (or God the Son) put himself above the law.”

He fulfilled it and it was no longer applicable. So, yes, in the end, He was above the law. He made Himself a servant of it out of humility. Once He accomplished His task it was fulfilled and it fell away. If He wants to eat pork He can.