St. Paul, Minn., Jan 31, 2011 / 10:50 pm (CNA).- An attorney attempting to sue the Vatican in a sex abuse case failed to follow proper diplomatic channels in his try to serve the lawsuit, the Holy See’s U.S. lawyer says. He charged that the attorney is “grandstanding.”
Jeff Anderson, from St. Paul, Minnesota, represents a deaf man who says he was sexually abused decades ago by Fr. Lawrence Murphy, a now-deceased priest at a Wisconsin school for the deaf. Anderson’s lawsuit charges that Pope Benedict and other Vatican officials conspired to cover up the allegations.
He claimed on Jan. 30 that the Vatican refused to be served with the lawsuit and returned it via Federal Express.
Anderson, who has been involved in many lawsuits against Catholic dioceses in the U.S., scheduled a news conference on Jan. 31 to accuse the Vatican of “dragging out the healing of deaf victims.” He said he plans to ask Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York to bring the case to the Pope’s attention.
Archbishop Dolan is the U.S. bishops’ conference president and former Archbishop of Milwaukee.
Jeffrey Lena, the U.S.-based attorney for the Vatican, said in a Jan. 30 e-mail that the lawsuit should have been served through diplomatic channels as would be done with any foreign state. Holding a news conference on the matter, he told the Associated Press, is “really just a form of grandstanding by Mr. Anderson for the press and the public.”
The Vatican has said that local bishops are responsible for disciplining sexually abusive priests.
Published by: Norma Smith
Rogers, AR 02/01/2011 02:40 PM EST
Anderson's "dragging out the healing of deaf victims,” can be seen as a 'pure' business ambition. Of course, he is not concerned one bit for the alleged victims. On the other hand, the Catholic Church real concern for all victims of this terrible evil is seen on the constant calling from the Holy Father to repentance and amendment of the perpetrators and his consoling statements to the victims. The hate for the Church of Christ and hunger for money are the worst evils of the present time, God help us!
Published by: fjf
Freehold, NJ, USA 02/01/2011 01:22 PM EST
Jeff Anderson. Need anything more be said?
Published by: John Shuster
Port Orchard, WA USA 02/01/2011 01:04 PM EST
If the Pope and his associates embrace and teach the values of truth and justice, why do they have a lawyer use the legal filter of "diplomatic channels" to keep them from testifying to the same?
Published by: Leon
Eastlake,oh. usa 02/01/2011 12:06 PM EST
Is it Not a Crime to avoid the Law?
Is the current Pope Head of the Church
above the Law?
Published by: Kay Goodnow
Lenexa KS USA 02/01/2011 11:38 AM EST
Just as the "church" blames survivors of priest abuse for their "problems," now that same "church" blames an attorney for filing a case in an inappropriate manner. Is the "vatican" above the law, or does the "Vatican" just believe itself to be immune from charges of criminal like behavior? How can anyone remain attached to a "church" that is a coven for evil? Beats me!
Published by: Bob Schwiderski
Wayzata, MN, USA 02/01/2011 10:44 AM EST
How many "improper" channels did the abusive clerics and enablers sneak around in?
This new spin by Lena and the Vatican to avoid the courts of the USA/Milwaukee is another "improper" sneak thru the channels of truth. Bob Schwiderski
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