Will Vatican accept US court's order to produce documents?
April 25, 2011
Although a federal judge has ordered the Vatican to produce evidence regarding a priest's employment, in an Oregon sex-abuse lawsuit, there is no guarantee that the Vatican will accept that order, notes John Allen of the National Catholic Reporter.
Judge Michael Mosman ordered the Vatican to show why the late Father Andrew Ronan, the accused abuser, could not be regarded as a Vatican employee. The Vatican could appeal the order, and the American court lacks authority to enforce it.
A lawyer representing the Vatican has indicated that neither Father Ronan nor any other ordinary diocesan priest is an "employee" of the Vatican. But the Vatican has not yet made any formal response to the judge's order.
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Further information:
- Vatican may resist judge's order for documents (National Catholic Reporter)
- Oregon judge orders Vatican to answer queries in sex-abuse lawsuit (CWN, 4/22)
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