How do we know? Compelling evidence of aversion to accountability and responsibility:
Pope seeks immunity in Texas abuse case - VATICAN CITY -- Lawyers for Pope Benedict XVI have asked President Bush to declare the pontiff immune from liability in a lawsuit that accuses him of conspiring to cover up the molestation of three boys by a seminarian in Texas, court records show. [--snip--]
Lawyers for abuse victims say the case is significant because previous attempts to implicate the Vatican, the pope or other church officials in U.S. sex abuse proceedings have failed -- primarily because of immunity claims and the difficulty serving Vatican officials with U.S. lawsuits.
It's the Vatican's version of iokiyar. You'd hope then Cardinal Ratzo wouldn't really have helped a child molester escape American justice. And had he committed such a grievious sin, you'd pray he'd welcome the opportunity to confess and atone. And more than anything you hope his defenders don't say something as stupid as, "the Pope has the same rights as anyone else to a vigorous defense," to justify Pope Ratzo's effort to escape scrutiny on a technical defense of immunity and jurisdiction. Because then you'd have to say, "fine, then both people of faith and people who do not define themselves by their religious faith have every right to consider him the Vatican's answer to Ken Lay."
