UN judicial official suggests trial of Pope for 'crimes against humanity'
April 09, 2010
A UN judge has suggested that Pope Benedict XVI should be tried before the International Criminal Court for "crimes against humanity." Geoffrey Robinson, who served on a UN judicial panel, recommended that authorities in the United Kingdom should detain the Pontiff during his visit there in September, and turn him over for trial. Robertson cited the Pope's leadership responsibility and the sexual abuse of children by Catholic clerics as reason for the indictment of the Roman Pontiff.
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Posted by: -
Apr. 10, 2010 3:36 PM ET USA
This supposed judge has harbored an animus towards the Holy See since joining in the 1999 attempt to strip it of its observer status at the UN. By his own admission all he wants is to get more money. Most responsible jurists note the difficulties of justifying such a proscecution as at best a miss-application of law and at worst as an illegal adaptation of law for partisan purposes.
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Posted by: -
Apr. 10, 2010 3:34 PM ET USA
This supposed judge has harbored an animus towards the Holy See since joining in the 1999 attempt to strip it of its observer status at the UN. By his own admission all he wants is to get more money. Most responsible jurists note the difficulties of justifying such a proscecution as at best a miss-application of law and at worst as an illegal adaptation of law for partisan purposes.
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Posted by: Gil125 -
Apr. 10, 2010 1:30 PM ET USA
Why is this surprising? It's the UN at work. Minnesota Mary is, of course, right. Both John Paul the Great and Benedict XVI have fed these chickens on the East River, that are now coming home to roost.
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Posted by: -
Apr. 10, 2010 12:13 AM ET USA
Oh Lord, the pot of the UN has been on the flame of scandal for so long, and in so many places, and with every possible sexual aberration that it is burnt beyond black into a nether shade that defies definition. Geoffrey Robinson, please call your psychiatrist and ask about projection.
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Posted by: -
Apr. 10, 2010 12:01 AM ET USA
Why doesn't someone do us a favour and lock Robinson up for crimes against reason?
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Posted by: -
Apr. 09, 2010 6:56 PM ET USA
Let's extend Robinson's idea to other noteworthy beneficiaries of legal exemption, in particular his own organization. Clearly, the U.N. Secretary-General is responsible for the continuing sexual abuses of children by UN peacekeepers in numerous countries since the late 1980s, very few of whom have ever been prosecuted either in their own country or where the abuse occurred. As Robinson implies, the Secretary-General should be sued in the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.
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Posted by: TheJournalist64 -
Apr. 09, 2010 6:56 PM ET USA
This kind of act, of course, would be the beginning of the great persecution. We need to redouble our prayers for the Church, now under the worst assault in my lifetime.
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Posted by: Minnesota Mary -
Apr. 09, 2010 6:42 PM ET USA
The Pope seems to think that the UN is a body that the Church can work with. We'll see how he likes it now.
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Posted by: Defender -
Apr. 09, 2010 6:26 PM ET USA
This really makes me angry, to even suggest arresting the pope is ludicruous. Following this "logic" and we should arrest every chief of state for the actions of every citizen. The truly unfortunate part of all this is that there are seemingly few who understand the Church's hierarchy. And to think that a UN judge would make such scurrilous remarks gives one pause.
