The lawsuit was filed in 1999 and alleges that the Bank and the Franciscan order profited from assets seized by the Nazis from Jews in concentration camps during World War II. The Bank and the order had contended that the matter was outside the jurisdiction of the US courts because it involved issues of foreign policy. The court rejected the argument without comment.
Last year, the court did strike down a lawsuit that named Pope Benedict as a defendant. A sex-abuse victim had named him when he was still Cardinal Ratzinger, because of his role as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in dealing with priest-perverts. The courts struck that down after he was elected as Benedict XVI because US citizens can’t sue foreign heads of state because of their sovereign immunity.
So the new ruling should not set a precedent related to abuse cases, but you never know how a clever lawyer might formulate an argument.
I wonder if the court will find that one Maximillian Kolbe was a fair trade for all these “assets seized” and let the Franciscans off the hook.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) [ip: 64.252.0.92] on 01/18/06 at 08:15 PM
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Supreme Court allows lawsuit against Vatican Bank
Speaking of Supreme Court decisions, the court is allowing a lawsuit against the Vatican Bank to go forward.
The lawsuit was filed in 1999 and alleges that the Bank and the Franciscan order profited from assets seized by the Nazis from Jews in concentration camps during World War II. The Bank and the order had contended that the matter was outside the jurisdiction of the US courts because it involved issues of foreign policy. The court rejected the argument without comment.
Last year, the court did strike down a lawsuit that named Pope Benedict as a defendant. A sex-abuse victim had named him when he was still Cardinal Ratzinger, because of his role as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in dealing with priest-perverts. The courts struck that down after he was elected as Benedict XVI because US citizens can’t sue foreign heads of state because of their sovereign immunity.
So the new ruling should not set a precedent related to abuse cases, but you never know how a clever lawyer might formulate an argument.
Technorati Tags: lawsuits, sex abuse, Supreme Court
COMMENTS
I wonder if the court will find that one Maximillian Kolbe was a fair trade for all these “assets seized” and let the Franciscans off the hook.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) [ip: 64.252.0.92] on 01/18/06 at 08:15 PM
Comments are being moderated. After you submit your comment it could take up to a couple hours, but usually only a few minutes, before it will appear. Thank you for your patience. If you have any questions, you may contact Domenico Bettinelli.