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Calls for Pope Benedict to be tried for 'crimes against humanity'

Victims and attorneys deliver complaint to the International Criminal Court in the Hague

CATHY HAYES,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Thursday, September 15, 2011, 2:34 PM

Updated Friday, September 16, 2011, 2:28 AM

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The International Criminal Court in the Hague has been asked to investigate Pope Benedict and three cardinals for alleged crimes against humanity, for what they have described as the cover-up of clerical abuse.

Ten victims and attorneys from the Center for Constitutional Rights, a non-profit group based in New York, delivered a detailed complaint against the Pope and Vatican officials on Tuesday, which accuses them of maintaining a "long-standing and pervasive system of sexual violence".

“The high-level officials of the Catholic church who failed to prevent and punish these criminal actions,” the complaint states, “have, to date, enjoyed absolute impunity.”
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Pope Bendict, Cardinal William Levad, leader of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican Secretary of State and his predecessor Cardinal Angelo Sodano, have all been named in the complaint.

Pam Spees, spokeswoman for the New York group, said that the men were "responsible for rape and other sexual violence and for the physical and psychological torture of victims around the world both through command responsibility and direct cover up of crimes".

"They should be brought to trial, like any other officials guilty of crimes against humanity," she added.

The Vatican declined to comment on the complaint.

Nster.com

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22 Comments

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rainbowbrew | Sep 19, 2011, 12:16 PM EDT

and Mr. law who was directly protected for cover up by the vatican.

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Collette2 | Sep 17, 2011, 05:54 PM EDT

I say hat's off to all the lawyer's who are sticking to it. If the Church didn't engage the cream of the legal profession to fight, claiming diplomatic immunity, instead of dealing with their iniquities with trepidation considering the atrocities committed, no money would exchange hands apart from restitution to the injured party.

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warlocks | Sep 17, 2011, 03:12 AM EDT

If you think you can sue the Vatican you are Dreaming. I Doubt any court in any christian country will ever hear that case. i say forget it . better to hit the church in the pocketbook its cheaper and works faster AND its will keep the Damn Lawyers out of it.

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Collette2 | Sep 17, 2011, 02:10 AM EDT

Trealach, they must have been worried when Condaleesa Rice was US Secretary of State, the Papal Secretariat leaned on her to help their cause on one of her official visits to Rome, (not the Vatican), still on public record somewhere if you can be bothered to look it up.

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AngelPrecious | Sep 16, 2011, 11:23 PM EDT

Can you imagine the many, many millions of Catholics that would descend upon the Hague if that happened. I would definitely be there in protest. Those lawyers are taking up more than they can possibly chew.

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Trealach | Sep 16, 2011, 07:04 PM EDT

Those NY Lawyers need to start learning LAW and stop running their mouths off. A 1st year law student would be able to advise them that the people they are trying to have charged ALL have DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY. EVERY Cardinal has diplomatic immunity. Those lawyers need to get real and stop wasting their 'client's money.

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eiriamach | Sep 16, 2011, 06:08 PM EDT

The cases filed in the Hague do not "brand all for the actions of some, joan1954. Read the text above: "Pope Benedict and three cardinals for alleged crimes against humanity, for what they have described as the cover-up of clerical abuse." The pope and three Vatican officials--that's far, far fewer individuals than those guilty of sexual abuse and covering up!

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AngelPrecious | Sep 16, 2011, 03:29 PM EDT

I definitely agree, Joan. I abhor the abuse and cover-up that followed but the Catholic Church is the mystical Body of Christ and Satan will not prevail!

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joan1954 | Sep 16, 2011, 02:09 PM EDT

Get real people, the Vatican is also a government as well as headquarters of a religious. Some Americans have difficulty determining this difference and the idiodicy of all of this is beyond comprehension. What individuals did is horrible but to brand all for the actions of some is reprehesible.

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AngelPrecious | Sep 16, 2011, 02:07 PM EDT

Seems like Satan is alive and well in those that attack the Catholic Church! @Trealach Hmmm.....and the "Irish Obama, LOL??

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Trealach | Sep 16, 2011, 01:02 PM EDT

Just shows the arrogance and complete ignorance these New York lawyers, not to know that the Vatican as a State is not subject to the International Criminal Court. However the US is, so perhaps those cowardly troops "responsible for rape and other sexual violence and for the physical and psychological torture of victims around the world both through command responsibility and direct cover up of crimes", under the command of George Bush should be put on trial.

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Tooreenagrena | Sep 16, 2011, 12:06 PM EDT

The victims must be supported. Church officials have acted like animals. If it was a secular organisation their officials would be in jail now.

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JamesMartin | Sep 16, 2011, 11:25 AM EDT

More buck shot at "The RCC". Time for real Catholic Christians to start anew. Let the sheep bleat and follow the wolf in shepard's clothing somewhere else!

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sirpeter | Sep 16, 2011, 07:43 AM EDT

Some Yanks don't you love them haha.They keep us entertained anyway if nothing else.

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Abused.N.I | Sep 16, 2011, 05:18 AM EDT

There should be no hidding place for abusers,The war crimes court should have jurisdiction anywhere,To hell with the rights of the Vatican.'What about the rights of the abused'.Time the whole world stood up against this evil state of child-abusers.

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