Frivolous Lawsuit of the Month

[Ralph]

From CBS News:

Pope Sued, Accused Of Sex Coverup
ROME, August 17, 2005


A lawyer who's suing Pope Benedict for allegedly covering up the sexual abuse of children by a seminarian says he'll challenge U.S. diplomatic recognition of the Vatican if the pope is given immunity as a head of state.

In the Texas civil lawsuit, Joseph Ratzinger -- now Pope Benedict -- is accused of conspiring with the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston to cover up the abuse of three boys during the mid-1990s.

Attorney Daniel Shea, who's representing one of three boys suing the pope, told reporters in Rome that President Bush should ignore a Vatican request to confirm Benedict's immunity.

Otherwise, Shea says he'll challenge the constitutionality of U.S. recognition of the Vatican as a sovereign state, although similar court challenges have failed in the past.

[Corlyss_D]

Otherwise, Shea says he'll challenge the constitutionality of U.S. recognition of the Vatican as a sovereign state, although similar court challenges have failed in the past.

What's the legal basis for the challenge?

[jbuck919]

My poor friend Joseph Ratzinger--he never really wanted this job. He will now be slayed by the Traditional Catholic movement, when in fact he and I should be shut in a room so that he might teach me proper Bavarian German while we perform Mozart four-hand pieces on his Steinway.

[Ralph]

Otherwise, Shea says he'll challenge the constitutionality of U.S. recognition of the Vatican as a sovereign state, although similar court challenges have failed in the past.

What's the legal basis for the challenge?

*****

There isn't any. U.S. decisions to recognize a foreign entity are nonjusticiable.