US lawsuit claiming that the Pope covered up abuse is withdrawn

[Dale_M]

A high-profile lawsuit in the United States accusing Pope Benedict XVI of covering up sexual abuse has been withdrawn.

Lawyers for the plaintiff in John Doe 16 v. Holy See filed a notice of voluntary dismissal last Friday, bringing the case effectively to an end.

The lawsuit was filed in April 2010 in the US District Court in Milwaukee by an unnamed Illinois man who claimed he had been molested by Fr Lawrence Murphy during the latter’s time on the staff of Milwaukee’s St John’s School for the Deaf.

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news...-is-withdrawn/

Well, I guess that is progress.

[Dale_M]

Originally Posted by The_Scott

Or, perhaps, the liberalization of sexual contact, the openness for immoral sexual behavior (whether homosexual, BDSM, or any other fetish), and, in general, the social revolution where the saying "if it feels good, it is good," is advanced in all areas of life.

I say its the culture of the world, not the institution, that has defiled our Church.

Hmm.... I am not sure there is any evidence to support that. My sense is that prior to the sexual revolution of the 1960s and the sexual liberalization of the 1970s, just as much sexual abuse was occurring. However, talking about it was forbidden. The topic was taboo, especially the matter of speaking ill of a priest.

If there is an upside to the sexual revolution, it was that the issue of child sex abuse could finally be discussed and addressed. Prior to 1970, the topic was simply swept under the carpet.

[OriginalJS]

Taking the article at face value, it is the law that the Vatican, as a foreign government and state, is immune from such tort actions. Nothing here goes to any merits.

[pnewton]

Originally Posted by Dale_M

If there is an upside to the sexual revolution, it was that the issue of child sex abuse could finally be discussed and addressed. Prior to 1970, the topic was simply swept under the carpet.

That is an interesting perspective, and rather insightful. I guess that is the one good thing to come from the sexual revolution. I would note further that this was a societal trend, and not specific to Catholicism.