Several weeks ago, Catholic Pope Benedict XVI of the Vatican made his first trip to the United States. He was at the largest Catholic Church in the United States which was the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. It is located in Washington DC.
While at the church, Benedict XVI addressed sex abuse in the American Catholic clergy. He had it a disgrace and a betrayal of those that seek healing and guidance. Benedict XVI had even met a few people that have been victimized in the past by the Catholic clergy.
Attorney William McMurray wants Pope Benedict XVI to appear in court and testify about clergy sex abuse within the Catholic Church. This lawsuit has been filed by three men that have claimed that the top officials within the Catholic Church should have warned about sexual abuses within the Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky. The lawsuit is still pending at this moment.
However, it is highly unlikely that testimony from Benedict XVI will be received. This is mainly due to Benedict XVI’s age which is 81 right now.
According to McMurray, Benedict XVI had the most knowledge in that subject before replacing then-Pope John Paul II. McMurray adds that Benedict XVI was in charge of the offices that were involved in those investigations.
To make more things interesting, the lawsuit is challenging the U.S. Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act. McMurray charged that the law itself violates the rights of the plaintiffs. In short, it violates to merits of the lawsuit. But, it is highly unlikely that this challenge will go through.
In short, the lawsuit has challenged both the Bush Administration and the Vatican. The law is defended by the Bush Administration. It said that since 1984, the Vatican has been considered its own country.
But it is unknown whether Pope Benedict XVI will actually be called to testify or not. Still, McMurray is definitely pushing for it.
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