Pope 'has no UK arrest immunity'

[Shasown]

Plans to have the Pope arrested when he visits the UK will succeed because he is not a head of state, a solicitor has said

Atheist authors Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens proposed the action against the Pontiff for his handling of child abuse scandals in the Catholic church.

The writers' solicitor Mark Stephens said applications will be made to courts in the UK and the International Criminal Court for a warrant for Pope Benedict XVI's arrest.

His likely defence would be be that he is immune from prosecution during his visit to Britain in September, according to the lawyer.

Mr Stephens said: "The courts will examine the claim of immunity. I believe that an English court would reject it. If the Pope was here on a state visit, ordinarily a head of state would have sovereign immunity. What I believe is that because he's not a sovereign, not a head of state, he's not entitled to the defence."

He said that the Vatican was declared to be a state by Benito Mussolini, but this had no standing in international law.

The Pope faced criticism after it emerged that he signed a letter which delayed the punishment of a paedophile priest in the US for the "good of the universal church".

Writing in 1985, the future Pontiff said that he needed more time to consider the case.

Mr Stephens, who has represented abuse victims in the past said: "This will require the Pope to deal with the way in which he appears to have prioritised the reputation of the Catholic church over the welfare of children."

Potential charges against the Pope would be crimes against humanity.


http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20100411/tuk-pope-has-no-uk-arrest-immunity-6323e80.html


Dawkins and co just seeking publicity?

[setanta]

What an image that would be. Magic stuff if they placed cuffs on him when he lands over there.

[Shasown]

What an image that would be. Magic stuff if they placed cuffs on him when he lands over there.

Yeah it would be, but in reality I cant see it happening, think the "solicitor" doesnt have a clue.

[InOne]

I used to be quite into the whole agressive atheism thing a few years ago. It would be good if it happened but can't see it as there would be uproar. They are kind of annoying now, Dawkins more so, but they are good writers, can't take that away from them.

[setanta]

Yeah it would be, but in reality I cant see it happening, think the "solicitor" doesnt have a clue.

Well, I mean if this letter is available to him then he could have a case, right? But that was involving a case in the States so I don't know how that could be used in England. I'm not well versed in international law though.

[AndyJK]

I can see the pontiff canceling his trip at this rate.

[Shasown]

Well, I mean if this letter is available to him then he could have a case, right? But that was involving a case in the States so I don't know how that could be used in England. I'm not well versed in international law though.

Well thats the key thing, it delayed the punishment, it didnt try to conceal the man's crimes, nor did it excuse his actions. And the Pope is actually the de facto sovereign of the Vatican City which the UK recognises as being independant of Italy. So he does actually have immunity.

[ILoveTRW]

the pope in handcuffs
how kniky

[Beastie]

the pope in handcuffs
how kniky

Dirty bitch.

[setanta]

Well thats the key thing, it delayed the punishment, it didnt try to conceal the man's crimes, nor did it excuse his actions. And the Pope is actually the de facto sovereign of the Vatican City which the UK recognises as being independant of Italy. So he does actually have immunity.

What if he visited the States? Ok, I'm hypothesizing here, but in a situation like that would they have the right to arrest him?

[Beastie]

A Porno Pope.

Coming to a Cinema near you!

[ILoveTRW]

Dirty bitch.

:tongue::blush2::tongue:

[Beastie]

or...

A Pope Porno.

[Shasown]

What if he visited the States? Ok, I'm hypothesizing here, but in a situation like that would they have the right to arrest him?

Again the head of state immunity thing, plus they are going to look awfully stupid trying to pursue a charge of obstruction of justice or similar when his letter was simply a guideline to staff to co-operate with the police without betraying the vows of the church etc. (and they know that is the excuse he will use if it ever did come to a prosecution).

[ILoveTRW]

or...

A Pope Porno.

him and the queen

[setanta]

Again the head of state immunity thing, plus they are going to look awfully stupid trying to pursue a charge of obstruction of justice or similar when his letter was simply a guideline to staff to co-operate with the police without betraying the vows of the church etc. (and they know that is the excuse he will use if it ever did come to a prosecution).

Fair enough. Interesting stuff. What I'd give to see him taken in though. Then again, I'd love to see Bush and the rest of them in the slammer too.

[Beastie]

him and the queen

Tasty ;)

[Shasown]

Fair enough. Interesting stuff. What I'd give to see him taken in though. Then again, I'd love to see Bush and the rest of them in the slammer too.

Yeah it would tickle a bit, the Pope, Bush and Blair all lined up in orange boilersuits on the way to the Hague.

[WOMBAI]

Yeah it would tickle a bit, the Pope, Bush and Blair all lined up in orange boilersuits on the way to the Hague.

That I would love to see - particularly Bush and Blair! :hugesmile:

[setanta]

That I would love to see - particularly Bush and Blair! :hugesmile:

Blair would be going, "He made me do it, it's not my fault".

[WOMBAI]

Blair would be going, "He made me do it, it's not my fault".

Too right! :joker:

[MrGaryy]

What I wouldn't give to see that man being taken down.

[Jessica.]

OMG NO! Pope Benedict is wonderful <3
Don't arrest him, he is amazing!

[arista]

OMG NO! Pope Benedict is wonderful <3
Don't arrest him, he is amazing!





Making Massive Words of Error
means he will have to go.



And in any case
There is No God.

[Niamh.]

It would be like a Few Good men when they arrested Jack Nicholsons character haha

UXoNE14U_zM

[Crimson Dynamo]

pathetic attempt to self publicise

shows these people for who they are, wannabe celebs

meh

[Niamh.]

pathetic attempt to self publicise

shows these people for who they are, wannabe celebs

meh

The victims of sexual abuse are wannabe celebs?

[BB_Eye]

I hope they don't arrest him. It will only turn him into a martyr figure. The Pope looks bad right now, I hope he becomes more and more irrelevant.

[Shasown]

The victims of sexual abuse are wannabe celebs?

Are Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens (Atheist Authors) and their solicitor Mark Stephens the victims of sexual abuse?

Other than self inflicted, I think not. They are however pushing for these accusations to be acted upon in order to gain themselves publicity and heighten thier fame/notoriety.

[BB_Eye]

Are Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens (Atheist Authors) and their solicitor Mark Stephens the victims of sexual abuse?

Other than self inflicted, I think not. They are however pushing for these accusations to be acted upon in order to gain themselves publicity and heighten thier fame/notoriety.

Who knew anti-religious protests could get so tiresome? Do they even realise that what they are doing is so counterproductive? The Vatican's hypocrisy is plain to see, but calling for the Pope's arrest so absurd, it will only bolster his support base.

[Niamh.]

Are Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens (Atheist Authors) and their solicitor Mark Stephens the victims of sexual abuse?

Other than self inflicted, I think not. They are however pushing for these accusations to be acted upon in order to gain themselves publicity and heighten thier fame/notoriety.

I was only asking LT who he meant when he said wannabe celebs!

[Crimson Dynamo]

I was only asking LT who he meant when he said wannabe celebs!

the two numpties in question. for folks who are atheists they are obsessed with religion, and i mean obsessed.

[Jessica.]

Making Massive Words of Error
means he will have to go.



And in any case
There is No God.

Well Pope Benedict XVI is a great Pope imo!

[Niamh.]

the two numpties in question. for folks who are atheists they are obsessed with religion, and i mean obsessed.

lol, this is true! It'll never happen anyway so I wouldn't worry!

[Crimson Dynamo]

I thought the Pope was like the King of Ireland anyway?

[Niamh.]

I thought the Pope was like the King of Ireland anyway?

lol, that's news to me! I wasn't aware we had royals here!