Pope’s immunity challenged in Britain
More than 10,000 Britons have signed a petition against Pope Benedict XVI’s planned visit to the UK, as anti-Vatican sentiments grow over child abuse scandals.
The petition launched on Downing Street’s web site challenges the Pope’s immunity from prosecution over sex crimes by pedophile priests during his four-day visit to England and Scotland in September.
Senior British lawyers are now examining whether the Vatican’s implicit statehood status should shield the pope as a head-of-state from prosecution.
Some lawyers argue, however, that the Vatican isn’t a true state and not a member of the United Nations.
Moreover, the Pope, is the only top religious leader to have immunity in the world.
The lawyers are now looking into prosecuting the top churchman under the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows judges to issue warrants for nearly any visitor accused of grievous crimes, no matter where they live.
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