And God Said, Let There Be Evasion of Responsibility

And he saw that it was good.

Victims of sexual abuse by priests will no longer be able to sue the Catholic church for damages if a landmark judgment rules that priests should not be considered as employees.

In a little publicised case heard this month at the high court, the church claimed that it is not "vicariously liable" for priests' actions. The church has employed the argument in the past but this was the first time it had been used in open court and a ruling in the church's favour would set a legal precedent.

  UK Guardian

Well blast that. I could see the argument if we were talking about one or two priests over the course of time, but we are talking about something pervasive, lengthy, and condoned by bishops and popes alike either through silence or through settling pedophile priests in new areas (for the love of God!) and perhaps even through direct participation. This is an outrage on top of an outrage by the church. Shame on any judge who lets this pass. People used to talk about the spirit of the law. And never mind that the church itself should stand on the side of justice and decency. There's a laugh for you.