GENEVA
RH Reality Check
by Erin Matson, Editor at Large, RH Reality Check
May 5, 2014
Vatican officials appeared Monday before the United Nations Committee on Torture to discuss the sexual abuse of children by priests, claiming the Holy See lacks juridical power to combat the problem on an international basis.
“It should be stressed, particularly in light of much confusion, that the Holy See has no jurisdiction,” said Archbishop Silvano Tomasi. “The Holy See intends to focus exclusively on the Vatican City state. State authorities are obligated to protect and when necessary to prosecute persons under their jurisdiction.”
This marked the second time that Tomasi claimed in a UN hearing that the Vatican should be considered separately from the Catholic Church, a contention that if honored would dramatically limit the ability of sexual abuse victims to pursue accountability through international law. The argument was first made in January, and was subsequently rejected by a committee focused on children’s rights. It reached a skeptical audience again Monday, with the chief rapporteur of the committee calling the Vatican’s attempt to narrow the scope of inquiry troubling.
Much is at stake. Many countries have statutes of limitations on the prosecution of criminal sexual assault, but not torture. The Center for Constitutional Rights, which advocates on behalf of victims, claimed in a report submitted to the hearing that the Vatican had refused to cooperate with law enforcement and moved predatory priests from country to country to help them avoid prosecution.
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