The UK government is said to have set in motion a law change that will prevent the Pope from being arrested when he visits the country in September.
Officials in Whitehall – the UK government’s administrative offices – are said to be worried over plans by the atheist authors Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens to have Pope Benedict arrested for crimes against humanity, because of his alleged cover-up of priestly assaults on children.
[…]
Justice Secretary Clarke [says] of the law change: “Our commitment to our international obligations and to ensuring that there is no impunity for those accused of crimes of universal jurisdiction is unwavering.“It is important, however, that universal-jurisdiction cases should be proceeded with in this country only on the basis of solid evidence that is likely to lead to a successful prosecution – otherwise there is a risk of damaging our ability to help in conflict resolution or to pursue a coherent foreign policy.
“The government has concluded, after careful consideration, that it would be appropriate to require the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions before an arrest warrant can be issued to a private prosecutor in respect of an offence of universal jurisdiction.”
The Pope hasn’t exactly been at the forefront of handling the criminality aspect of what many of his priests have been doing. Does his actions (or non-actions) make him criminally complicit?
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#29–Gildersleaze==does talking out of both sides of your mouth cause your butt cheeks to flutter?
1. You blather: “Honestly, who really believes the likes of Dawkins are advocating the rights of the abused?”/// How can having those who protect child abusers prosecuted for said action NOT BE advocating the rights of the abused? You may be confused by the likely fact that Dawkins et al have more than one motive but the act and its consequences stand independent of the motives in bringing it.
2. Your blather continues with: “Their agenda is to restrict the rights of man and deny the spiritual” /// I’d say again the unavoidable results of their action would be to cleanse the church of child abusers==certainly an aid to true believers actually getting a chance for harmony betwteen their beliefs and their actions?
3. But now you start ranting: “– in other words, a communist agenda.” /// Given some of what you already posted, this “could be” an attempt at what you consider “wry humor,” but given your general blather you more likely conflate atheism with communism, seeing only a few points of similarity and none of the differences? A true dolt.
4. Again with the humor you conclude: “Don’t get me wrong – child abusers should be roasted over a spit, and the Church should find a way to clean these devils out of the system. But most of them are old or ancient now so won’t represent a threat for long. /// No one reading your drivel will get you wrong. Child abusers are bad, but anyone holding them to account is even worse. The religious mind’s hierarchy at work.
I fear Hitchens’ poison will take longer to wring out of public thought. /// Yes, imagine the horror of having to think for yourself. Given the distance you have to go, that would indeed be daunting.
God would be embarrassed.
Adam Curry played this on the DSC a few weeks back and it is the best summary of the Pope situation
http://youtube.com/watch?v=fHRDfut2Vx0
I can see the pope asking god to release the kraken if he got in jail.
A kraken is the last thing President Obama needs to deal with right now. There are enough Republisheep messes right now to fix, thank you.
Leave the pope alone.
#30
“I fear Hitchens’ poison will take longer to wring out of public thought.”
You mean like the war-mongering that resulted in a million dead Iraqis?
Many of whom were children?