A federal appeals court has ruled that the Vatican can be held liable for damages in some cases of sexual abuse committed by Roman Catholic clergy.
From a report in the Los Angeles Times:
In a 59-page decision issued Tuesday, a three-judge panel from the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the man — who says he was molested in the 1960s by a priest at a Catholic school — can pursue a civil lawsuit against the Holy See because the priest allegedly abused him while serving in a religious capacity.
Lawyers for the plaintiff hailed the ruling as a watershed moment for victims of clergy abuse, who for decades have wanted to hold the Catholic hierarchy accountable for protecting priests.