http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2013/ ... reme-court (http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2013/02/catholic-churchs-attempt-to-evade-responsibility-for-child-abuse-liability-is-stymied-by-supreme-court)
QuoteThe Supreme Court has this week refused to hear a case from the Catholic Church that it could not be held responsible for abuse committed by one of its priests because he was not an 'employee'. This means the Catholic Church can now be financially liable for child abuse by priests working under its control.
The case arose when a Portsmouth woman brought a civil action against the Church after claiming she was abused by a priest at a children's home run by the Church.
The woman, identified in court as Miss E, was seven years old when she was admitted to the Firs Children' Home in 1970. She alleges she was sexually abused by Father Wilfred Baldwin, a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth, who died in 2006.
In November 2011, High Court judge Mr Justice Alistair MacDuffs ruled that the church is legally responsible for sexual abuse committed by its priests. This week's ruling by the Supreme Court has now confirmed that decision.
Peter Furlough, who represents the lawyers of the Waterlooville victim, said it was a landmark case that could not be challenged in Europe– and one that would have international ramifications for the Catholic Church.
He told The Portsmouth News: "The Supreme Court has refused the Catholic Church permission to make further appeals to it. Therefore the Catholic Churches' case is lost. That's to say they are responsible for the misbehaviour of their priests.
"The Catholic Church were looking to use a loophole. They were arguing that because priests are technically self-employed the church could not be held responsible for their misbehaviour. The Supreme Court was having none of it."
Because the point of the law has now been settled, it means that other cases of alleged abuse by Father Baldwin can be heard. Mr Furlough said there were known to be several 'local' victims.
Mr Furlough said: "It's known there are a number of other cases involving the late Father Baldwin. We should expect a number of other cases to come forward. There's a list of half a dozen or so that are known."
He added: "It's not possible for the church to go toEurope. The Supreme court has refused even to hear it. Therefore the case stops there and can't go any further."
He said the ruling would have an impact across the globe in similar cases.
Keith Porteous Wood, executive director of the National Secular Society, said: "It is hard to exaggerate the importance of this case: it will almost certainly become an international precedent opening the door to financial liability against the Church for at least tens of thousands of victims of abuse worldwide.
"Evidence abounds of the shameless lengths to which the Church has stooped for decades to evade financial responsibility for widespread abuse of children in its care. To have fought to evade liability for admitted abuse is both morally repugnant and a continuing blatant breach of the Church's obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child."
GOOD
sounds good, maybe we'll see the demise of the RCC in the following generation(s).
I really hope they name the next pope Peter of Romanus. ;)
Maybe foreknowledge of this result is what hastened Ratzinger out of the popehood.
Can I get a hallelujah!?
(//http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view3/1186332/family-guy-good-good-o.gif)
GOOD... GOOD!
Great!
I could't imagine this happening in the US Supreme Court, though... there are what? Seven Catholics on it?
Quote from: "Nonsensei"Maybe foreknowledge of this result is what hastened Ratzinger out of the popehood.
With the way things are going it's going to get the point where it will be absolutely stupid to be pope. I'm halfway sure Ratzinger realized this and got out while he could.
Hell yeah. :)
Oh and I'm waiting for the members of that SC to be declared antichrists. I mean, being harsh to the RCC, why do that?
/obvious sarcasm is obvious
Quote from: "The Skeletal Atheist"Quote from: "Nonsensei"Maybe foreknowledge of this result is what hastened Ratzinger out of the popehood.
With the way things are going it's going to get the point where it will be absolutely stupid to be pope. I'm halfway sure Ratzinger realized this and got out while he could.
I wonder if finding the new pope has shifted from "me me me me me" to "him him him him him". Shame we'll never hear about the proces as outsiders.
Quote from: "Plu"Quote from: "The Skeletal Atheist"Quote from: "Nonsensei"Maybe foreknowledge of this result is what hastened Ratzinger out of the popehood.
With the way things are going it's going to get the point where it will be absolutely stupid to be pope. I'm halfway sure Ratzinger realized this and got out while he could.
I wonder if finding the new pope has shifted from "me me me me me" to "him him him him him". Shame we'll never hear about the proces as outsiders.
To me it seems like the Vatican is on the downfall, so your assessment may be right. I'm guessing it won't be during our lifetimes, but I'm almost sure that the RCC is on the way to becoming a relic.
These churches don't half squirm when it comes to facing up to their responsibilities in court don't they?
QuoteThe Supreme Court has this week refused to hear a case from the Catholic Church that it could not be held responsible for abuse committed by one of its priests because he was not an 'employee'
What a bunch of fucking weasels....yeesh. They should be ashamed they even thought of using that excuse.
Quote from: "Surrogate"QuoteThe Supreme Court has this week refused to hear a case from the Catholic Church that it could not be held responsible for abuse committed by one of its priests because he was not an 'employee'
What a bunch of fucking weasels....yeesh. They should be ashamed they even thought of using that excuse.
As far as I know about law, all that's needed is for someone to be an "official representative" of said organization. If they operate on their behalf, and are subordinate to their policies, then I'd think that's close enough to blame the Boss Man.
But once they began covering for these guys... moving them to new locations in an attempt to hide, then that's aiding and abetting. Doesn't matter if I didn't employ a bank robber, but once I give him a ride from the crime scene to the hideout, I'm just as guilty as he is.
Quote from: "The Skeletal Atheist"Quote from: "Nonsensei"Maybe foreknowledge of this result is what hastened Ratzinger out of the popehood.
With the way things are going it's going to get the point where it will be absolutely stupid to be pope. I'm halfway sure Ratzinger realized this and got out while he could.
I think it's more what TSA said.
The RCC is fast becoming widely percieved as the horrible, backwards organisation that it really is, and the stresses of being pope and defending an organisation that has systematically committed horrible crimes against vast numbers of victims spanning generations is probably getting to be a lot to deal with, even for a young person, let alone someone old and frail.
[spoil:5gowr8jw]MWUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH!!!![/spoil:5gowr8jw]