Exposing the Evil of the Popes

 

Exposing the Evil of the Popes.

Let’s not beat around the bush here: The global, top-secret cover-up of sexual abuse by priests? Yeah, that’s got Cardinal Ratzinger (who later became Pope Benedict XVI) written all over it.

One of the most shocking cases? Oh, just a priest named Father Maciel—a guy who wasn’t just your average bad apple. No, he was a bigamist, a drug addict, and a pedophile who, wait for it, even raped his own kids. And guess what? Ratzinger knew all about it! But rather than, you know, doing anything about it, he decided to protect Maciel. He didn’t even kick him out of the church after becoming Pope! Instead, they just gave Maciel a cozy retirement in the U.S., far away from any pesky journalists who might ask questions.

As Pope, Benedict’s Vatican has been, let’s just say, not exactly a champion of human rights. Thanks to its status as a so-called “state” (yeah, apparently 0.2 square miles of buildings counts as a “country”), the Vatican gets to show up at the United Nations and throw its weight around. And what do they do there? Veto anything related to women’s rights, birth control, or LGBTQ+ rights. Basically, they’re the UN’s designated roadblock for anything resembling progress on gender equality.

And it doesn’t stop there. Benedict himself? He’s called homosexuality “evil.” He’s made it clear that women have no right to choose, even if they’re victims of rape or incest. Birth control? Forget it. Even if it could prevent AIDS in marriage, condoms are a no-no. That’s right—the same guy who protected predators is telling the world what’s “evil.” Hypocrisy much?

Oh, and in case you thought his influence was limited to the church, think again. His Vatican has rallied Catholic countries in Latin America to join forces with Islamic states at the UN. Why? To keep blocking any steps towards equality or justice, of course.

But here’s the real kicker: as the leader of his mini “state,” Pope Benedict has total immunity from being held accountable. Even if survivors of abuse tried to sue, it’s nearly impossible to get him in court. As long as he stays within the Vatican walls, he’s untouchable. But there’s a tiny chance that if he steps outside, some court might actually decide he has a case to answer for.

But don’t hold your breath. Because for now, the world’s tiniest “country” still lets him walk free.

Geoffrey Robertson QC (a lawyer who wrote “The Case of the Pope: Vatican Accountability for Human Rights Abuse”)