Trust me I am not saying it is right - but the reason they are allowed to get away with it is because priests are citizens of a sovereign nation - the Vatican which is in Italy. The Arch Bishop is correct in one instance that is many of the priests are accused by false accusers. In some instances they are easy targets. I think also one reason it happens is because the accusers are members of the church and probably the parents report it to the church but not law enforcement. One thing is though we have to apply the same statistics to the priests that we do to the general public. In other words, I would say the ratio of false accusations is probably the same within the church as within any walk of life. Do I think some abuse in the church has occurred – I am sure it has but I do not think that just because they are celibate and priests means that there are more molesters among them,

At the moment this is a big deal in Australia with our churches and government run places.

From the little googling I have done I would say that they are not citizens of a foreign nation if they are they are dual citizens from where they are living and the Vatican. They are not granted diplomatic immunity as they are not diplomats in any capacity. What appears to protect them is the integration of the church and state that isn't supposed to happen here in the USA.

Priests are given passes for reasons beyond my comprehension as they never seem to be held to the same rules as the rest of us, even though in the eyes of the law they are no different than you or me.

I read about it here: http://ask.metafilter.com/149629/What-is-the-legal-status-of-catholic-priests-in-the-United-States

What escapes me is that those that have been covering up those crimes are accessory to the crimes because of it. Why aren't all those people that just keep bouncing those priests from place to place brought up on charges of aiding and abetting? They essentially covered up the crime, silenced the victims and moved the perpetrator out of sight and apparently out of mind.

It's one thing to want to take care of your own and keep things like this 'in your own house' but that isn't right nor is it fair to others be them other offenders that do not have this option or the victims that never receive any justice to the wrongs that have been committed against them.

I agree with wisconsinrsol as they are not citizens of a foreign nation who operate under diplomatic immunity in the U.S. and thus, they are subject to the same U.S. laws and those of the state where they live or operate, as all others.

In years past, it was likely not believed because it was, frankly, unbelievable that a priest would do anything of a sexual nature to a child. However, the confirmed cases are a serious black eye on the Vatican and one that it would prefer to avoid having to deal with publicly.

Insofar as the "false allegations" --- welcome to America and the world men live in, in this country.

Regardless they are protected by one of the most powerful organizations in the world

And that is basically what it comes down to Advocate2. Unfortunately a lot of SA cases are politically decided. And that is not right. But unfortunately that is the way life is today!!

There trusted and people cant belive that a man on that level would do something like that. It could be anyone so never say never