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6th Circuit Allows Some Sex-Abuse Claims Against Vatican To Proceed Under FSIA

By Howard M. Friedman

In O'Bryan v. Holy See, (6th Cir., Nov. 24, 2008), the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court decision dismissing certain claims against the Vatican in a clergy sex-abuse case, but permitting other claims to proceed under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA). At the heart of the claims against the Vatican were allegations that, through a 1962 directive, it implemented a policy to keep allegations of childhood sexual abuse by priests secret. Finding that the Holy See is a foreign state under FSIA, the court held that plaintiffs had waived any Establishment Clause challenge to applying FSIA to the Vatican. Under FSIA, federal courts have jurisdiction only if one of the statute's exceptions to sovereign immunity apply. The court rejected arguments that the commercial activity exception or the tortious act exception subjected the Holy See to suit in U.S. courts. However the court went on to hold that the tortious act exception did allow claims against the Holy See arising out of conduct of Holy See employees in the United States engaged in the supervision of allegedly abusive priests, including clergy failure to warn parents or report perpetrators. AP reported on the decision yesterday.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on November 25, 2008 (boomark / email).