ECHR rejects case seeking to blame Vatican for abuse

European Court of Human Rights rules that the Holy See enjoys sovereign immunity in landmark case.

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the Vatican cannot be sued in a local court for sexual abuse committed by Catholic priests, affirming that it enjoys sovereign immunity and that the misconduct of priests and their superiors cannot be attributed to the Holy See.

The ECHR dismissed a case on Tuesday brought by two dozen people who said they were victims of abusive priests in Belgium.

The 24 plaintiffs had argued the Holy See was liable because of the “structurally deficient” way the Catholic hierarchy had for decades covered up cases of priests who raped and molested children.