Milwaukee abuse victims file lawsuit against Pope
April 22, 2010
A Minnesota lawyer has filed a federal lawsuit against Pope Benedict XVI and the Vatican on behalf of the victims of abuse by a notorious Milwaukee priest.
Attorney Jeffrey Anderson argues that the Pope should be held responsible for the failure to laicize Murphy, who was accused of abusing over 200 students at a school for the deaf. Anderson was a major source for a New York Times story that appeared in March, charging that then-Cardinal Ratzinger had balked at pleas from the Milwaukee archdiocese to laicize Murphy. Subsequent investigations have shown numerous inaccuracies in that story.
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Further information:
- Murphy assault victims to sue Pope today (Journal-Sentinel)
- Vatican, Pope to be Sued Over Assault Claims in St. Francis (WUWM)
- Attorney suing Vatican, pope over Murphy case (Washington Post)
- Profile of Jeffrey Anderson, aggressive legal advocate for abuse victims (CWN, 4/19)
- New York Times highlights Vatican inaction on abusive Milwaukee priest (CWN, 3/25)
- The Pope and the Murphy case: what the New York Times story didn't tell you (On the News, 3/25)
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Posted by: frjpharrington3912 -
Apr. 22, 2010 10:38 PM ET USA
According to canon law, the power of governance - distinghised as legislative, executive and judicial - is conferred on the bishop by virtue of his consecration to the offic of episcopacy. He possesses these powers in his own right, in the name of Christ from which they come and whose vicar he is. Thus, it is the responsibility of the local bishop to discipline priests within his jurisdiction who are guilty of misconduct, not the Pope. Rembert Weakland was the Archbishop of Milwaukee in 1996.
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Posted by: -
Apr. 22, 2010 4:27 PM ET USA
And the harm that Murphy caused between the case's coming to the notice of the CDF and his death was . . . ?
