Not super directly related to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, but interesting in terms of how modern human rights law. According to this article in The New York Times, several organizations are suing Pope Benedict XVI and other top officials at the Vatican in the International Criminal Court, where war crimes and human rights violations are prosecuted. The charge is that the Vatican has not done enough to protect children against child abuse and instead has protected perpetrators of child abuse.
As you recall, we've been talking about how in a human rights framework, governments have an obligation to protect the rights of individuals. So it is particularly serious if a government fails to protect the rights of individuals.
Arguably, the Vatican is a government in two senses. First, it is definitely an independent city-state, with its own money and stamps. (Yes, stamps are actually an issue in nationhood!) Secondly, more controvesially, the Vatican represents the Holy See, which is the "nation" of Roman Catholics throughout the world. The Holy See has a permanent observer mission at the United Nations. It's the only religious organization that has that status.
The Vatican has been a signatory to many human rights treaties and conventions, including several on the human rights of children. As such, it is obligated to protect and ensure these rights. These are the terms under which the suit at the Hague is being brought.
I think the charges do fall under the courts jurisdiction. Mr. Ellis said himself that, “Crimes against humanity means acts that are committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against a civilian population.” In this case, children are the civilian population and the abuse they have experienced by priests has been systematic and widespread. Systematic, because the position of a priest is supposed to be one of innocence and trust. So when children are abused by priests, the role of priesthood is systematically used as a ploy to earn a child's trust and instill in their mind that the priest is doing nothing wrong. It is an abuse or privileges as well. And since their have been child rape victims to priest worldwide, the issue is widespread. On top of that, several priests found guilty have simply been relocated... instead of removed of their title... and therefore, the Vatican should be punished for allowing child abusers to remain in their congregation.
ReplyDeleteSo in my opinion this is absolutely under the court's jurisdiction. I think the argument around it derives from a cowardice that there will be confirmation of the public stigma about priests. It's about time to deal with it up-front and expose/ get rid of child abusers that disguise themselves with piety.