[URL]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14898204[/URL]
[QUOTE][B]A group representing victims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests is asking the International Criminal Court to investigate Pope Benedict XVI and three senior cardinals for alleged crimes against humanity.[/B]
A New York-based legal charity says they failed to prevent child abuse.
A Vatican lawyer called the case a "ludicrous publicity stunt".
The Roman Catholic Church has been rocked by a series of sex abuse cover-up scandals in recent years.
The Centre for Constitutional Rights (CCR), which is filing the complaint, says it has submitted more than 20,000 pages of evidence of crimes committed by Catholic clergy against children and vulnerable adults to the Hague-based court.
It is being supported by abuse victims in the United States, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
"Crimes against tens of thousands of victims, most of them children, are being covered up by officials at the highest level of the Vatican," said the CCR's lawyer, Pam Spees.
"In this case, all roads really do lead to Rome."
The International Criminal Court was set up nine years ago to deal with serious international crimes. It lists rape and sexual violence as crimes against humanity.
But neither the US nor the Vatican was a party to the original treaty setting up the court.
Lawyer Jeffrey Lena, who represents the Vatican in US sex abuse cases, told the Associated Press the request for the ICC to investigate was a "misuse of international judicial processes".
The BBC's David Willey in Rome says the question as to whether the court has jurisdiction in this case will have to be determined by the ICC's chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo.
Pope Benedict has in the past expressed shame and sorrow over the clerical sex scandal and has called on bishops around the world to come up with common guidelines against paedophile priests by May 2012.
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[QUOTE]"In this case, all roads really do lead to Rome"[/QUOTE]
I think that bit should read "In this case, all roads really do lead to the Vatican City"
Pointless. With the pope having diplomatic immunity, one of the largest organizations the world has ever seen, and the power of a religious leader, no matter what this court finds absolutely nothing will come of it.
I wonder what excuse the pope gave for him to take a year to come up with anti-paedophile guidelines. Is it that difficult to setup for these people?
Could someone technically declare war on the Vatican for international crimes committed by it's people?
[QUOTE=valkery;32278136]Could someone technically declare war on the Vatican for international crimes committed by it's people?[/QUOTE]
The Vatican being it's own state, I would assume so. But wouldn't it be seen as declaring a war on a religion by many of the followers? The Vatican is considered a sacred place, and the pope their leader.
Then there's the whole issue of it being in the center of the capitol of Italy...
Honestly, its getting tiring seeing this shit.
[QUOTE=SilentOpp;32278171]The Vatican being it's own state, I would assume so. But wouldn't it be seen as declaring a war on a religion by many of the followers? The Vatican is considered a sacred place, and the pope their leader.
Then there's the whole issue of it being in the center of the capitol of Italy...[/QUOTE]
So what? If they have a good reason for attacking the Vatican, such as many of their children getting raped by papal authorities, let them attack.
[QUOTE=valkery;32278311]So what? If they have a good reason for attacking the Vatican, such as many of their children getting raped by papal authorities, let them attack.[/QUOTE]
Because the actions of a local priest will not be attributed to the Vatican. They will just arrest the local priest. And no one will ever attack the Vatican, ever. Unless all the Catholics give up their religion and the Italians decide they want it.
I think I read somewhere we were afriad to even drop bombs during WWII near the Vatican in fear they would get mad and in turn piss off the Catholics here.
There really isn't even a good reason to attack the Vatican anyways.
[QUOTE=SilentOpp;32278111]Pointless. With the pope having diplomatic immunity, [/QUOTE]
well we're just gonna have to revoke it
Can't he just die already.
[QUOTE=JCDentonUNATCO;32278826]Can't he just die already.[/QUOTE]
There would just be another senile old religious nutjob to take his place.
[QUOTE=valkery;32278964]There would just be another senile old religious nutjob to take his place.[/QUOTE]
We can always pray (lol) for a semi-intelligent pope. Or at least one that's not a child molester.
I can take his place when he die, i can do a lot of fun shit like raping children. Oh wait... Let's not abuse power here.
[QUOTE=IdiotStorm;32278475]well we're just gonna have to revoke it[/QUOTE]
[video=youtube;AwB5SCpQv9U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwB5SCpQv9U[/video]
The military pushes Christianity onto the soldiers and its family, it would be hard to get all these convinced people to go against their prime leader.
When you look at all other religions, too. They all have their own problems. Another problem with the Catholic church in particular is that it is the biggest money maker on Planet fucking Earth. The Pope, literately, is richer than many major companies.
He can buy out Governments, and bribe the court, even though corrupt officials are usually getting their wrists slapped with handcuffs, there are still officials that love the color green.
But he's the pope, the most religious man in the world. We all know that all Catholics are pure and good so he can't have done anything bad!!!
[QUOTE=SilentOpp;32278111]I wonder what excuse the pope gave for him to take a year to come up with anti-paedophile guidelines. Is it that difficult to setup for these people?[/QUOTE]
It's a touchy subject.
[QUOTE=silentjubjub;32280188]But he's the pope, the most religious man in the world. We all know that all Catholics are pure and good so he can't have done anything bad!!![/QUOTE]
I'm actually Catholic myself. Trust me, the church and the Pope can be corrupt.
Can't you impeach the pope
[QUOTE=valkery;32278964]There would just be another senile old religious nutjob to take his place.[/QUOTE]
The previous one was good
The only way to remove a pope is by death, or for the pope himself to step down on the grounds of either infirmity or aquiessence.
It wasn't uncommon in ye olde days for the world to recognize that bad popes needed to be fixed. Then again, the papal army was more wanton about going to war in ye olde days to.
Fun fact: The age of consent in Vatican City State is 12. So technically it isn't child abuse.
[QUOTE=SilentOpp;32278111]Pointless. With the pope having diplomatic immunity, one of the largest organizations the world has ever seen, and the power of a religious leader, no matter what this court finds absolutely nothing will come of it.
I wonder what excuse the pope gave for him to take a year to come up with anti-paedophile guidelines. Is it that difficult to setup for these people?[/QUOTE]
this is the ICC, not normal court, this is the court they send war criminals and people with diplomatic immunity to.
When will religion just die, all its doing is slowing down humanity.
[QUOTE=Spycrabz;32282661]Fun fact: The age of consent in Vatican City State is 12. So technically it isn't child abuse.[/QUOTE]
Crafty motherfuckers.
Hardly a matter for the ICC
Just wait for another one. Or tell God about him. Belive me the latter is the better.
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