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Court drops seat belt charges against Pope Benedict
cna ^ | December 3, 2011 | Marianne Medlin

Posted on 12/05/2011 9:03:50 AM PST by NYer

Pope Benedict moves through the crowd in his popemobile at World Youth Day in Madrid. Credit: Official WYD flickr.com-madrid11

Freiburg, Germany, Dec 3, 2011 / 05:36 pm (CNA).-

In a case that brought amusement to the Vatican, a German court decided to throw out charges against Pope Benedict for not wearing a seat belt during his recent papal visit to the country.

“There will be no fine for the Pope,” city spokeswoman Edith Lamersdorf told German news agency Badische Zeitung on Nov. 30. “The charges were quashed.”

Lawyer Christian Sundermann had filed a complaint on behalf of an unnamed Dortmund resident who voiced concern over the Pope's safety. In August, the pontiff visited his native country, making stops in the cities of Berlin, Freiburg and Erfurt, where he greeted locals from his popemobile.

Officials ruled on Wednesday that although Germany requires all citizens to wear seat belts—even in slow-moving vehicles—the law didn’t apply to the Pope since he was on public streets that were closed for papal events.

Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., said on Nov. 30 that the charges provoked “curiosity and smiles of amusement” at the Holy See, “beginning with the Pope himself.”

He explained the need for Pope Benedict to not be restricted by seat belts during his visits, since he “turns continually to the right and to the left to greet and bless the faithful.”

“Often he gets up and takes in his arms babies to bless, to the joy of the parents and everyone present,” Fr. Lombardi said. “All these gestures presume a certain freedom of movement.”

The spokesman was, nevertheless, “grateful for the affectionate concern for the Pope's safety.”

Pope Benedict could have been fined 30 to 2,500 euros ($40 to $3,300) if he was found guilty of the charges.

Attorney Sundermann clarified that her client's intent was to draw attention to the importance of supporting seat belt law enforcement rather than level an attack on the Church. 


TOPICS: Catholic; Humor; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: germany; pope; seatbelts

1 posted on 12/05/2011 9:03:55 AM PST by NYer
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To: netmilsmom; thefrankbaum; Tax-chick; GregB; saradippity; Berlin_Freeper; Litany; SumProVita; ...

2 posted on 12/05/2011 9:06:28 AM PST by NYer ("Be kind to every person you meet. For every person is fighting a great battle." St. Ephraim)
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To: NYer
Ah, lawyers.
Where would we be without'em?
3 posted on 12/05/2011 9:08:53 AM PST by cloudmountain
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To: NYer

Did that child have TSA clearance?


4 posted on 12/05/2011 9:10:02 AM PST by immadashell
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To: NYer

I’m sure the Pope is deeply relieved. (I’m sure the international ridicule will be remembered by the German officials for a long time.)


5 posted on 12/05/2011 9:12:39 AM PST by Tax-chick (I'm surrounded by sullen mammals.)
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To: NYer

A Pope without a seatbelt is Papal Bull.


6 posted on 12/05/2011 9:14:06 AM PST by bunkerhill7
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To: NYer

When you can plausibly say “God is my co-pilot” you get a pass!


7 posted on 12/05/2011 9:14:17 AM PST by Lady Lucky
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To: NYer
I wonder what Jerry Williams would say about this?
8 posted on 12/05/2011 9:23:44 AM PST by Cowman (How can the IRS seize property without a warrant if the 4th amendment still stands?)
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To: NYer

Attorney Sundermann clarified that her client’s intent was to draw attention to the importance of supporting seat belt law enforcement rather than level an attack on the Church
...........................................................
One should not say Bullsh*t in a thread about the Pope I guess, but that is what this was all about.

Harrassment. That’s all.

This unnamed Dorkmund resident is a true Dork.
It was Dorkmund wasn’t it? LOL If it isn’t it should be.

And this Popemobile chasing shyster lawyer should get a life.


9 posted on 12/05/2011 9:27:59 AM PST by Venturer
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To: Venturer
This unnamed Dorkmund resident is a true Dork. It was Dorkmund wasn’t it? LOL If it isn’t it should be.

That would make it, literally, "The Mouth of the Dork River."

≤}B^)

10 posted on 12/05/2011 9:57:22 AM PST by Erasmus
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To: NYer

Either make seat belts illegal or fine the crap out of him!


11 posted on 12/05/2011 10:00:25 AM PST by dalereed (uity wise!)
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To: NYer

plus that kid isn’t in a car seat!!!


12 posted on 12/05/2011 10:35:56 AM PST by WOBBLY BOB (Congress: Looting the future to bribe the present.)
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To: dalereed

The Pope is the head of a sovereign state. Does anyone recognize the concept of diplomatic immunity?


13 posted on 12/05/2011 10:48:23 AM PST by DMZFrank
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To: dalereed

The Pope is the head of a sovereign state. Does anyone recognize the concept of diplomatic immunity?


14 posted on 12/05/2011 10:49:14 AM PST by DMZFrank
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To: dalereed

The Pope is the head of a sovereign state, the Vatican. Does anyone recognize the concept of diplomatic immunity?


15 posted on 12/05/2011 11:03:45 AM PST by DMZFrank
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To: DMZFrank

Damn that internet latency!!!


16 posted on 12/05/2011 11:05:30 AM PST by DMZFrank
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To: DMZFrank
"... diplomatic immunity?"

Oh, please, it's not like he's a Mooze Lame who deserves such diplomatic niceties. /sarc

17 posted on 12/05/2011 11:35:48 AM PST by Rashputin (Obama stark, raving, mad, and even his security people know it.)
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To: Venturer

Hehehehehe!! Thanks for the laugh!


18 posted on 12/05/2011 1:13:24 PM PST by stonehouse01
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