Vatican opposes Louisville lawyer's bid to take testimony from Pope in sex abuse lawsuit

Source: Louisville Courier-Journal

The Vatican has filed formal opposition to a Louisville lawyer's bid to take sworn testimony from Pope Benedict XVI and top Vatican officials over sexual abuse in the United States.

Church lawyers said requiring the "unprecedented" testimony from the pope and his top aides would set a dangerous precedent that could inspire foreign courts to subpoena the president of the United States in future cases.

"If Pope Benedict XVI or the Secretary of State is ordered to testify by a United States court, foreign courts could feel emboldened to order depositions of the President or Vice President of the United States regarding, for example, such issues as CIA rendition," lawyer Jeffrey Lena stated in a brief filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for Western Kentucky.

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"The proposed depositions are unprecedented - akin to a foreign plaintiff seeking a foreign court order compelling the depositions of the United States president, vice president, secretary of defense and ambassador," Lena wrote.


Read more: http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100625/NEWS01/6250369/Vatican+opposes+Louisville+lawyer+s+bid+to+take+testimony+from+Pope+in+sex+abuse+lawsuit