"They should be brought to trial like any other officials guilty of crimes against humanity."
But Herman van der Wilt, professor of international law at Amsterdam University, told AFP he did not think the complaint "stands much of a chance before the ICC".
"Firstly, a prerequisite for crimes against humanity is that it has to be perpetrated by a State, or 'state-like' organization," he said.
"And secondly because the ICC would not be able to investigate any crimes committed before July 1, 2002, when its mandate commenced according to its founding statute," he added.
SNAP head Barbara Blaine called on victims "across the globe" to "join us".
The association said it was "embarking on a 12-city tour throughout Europe to demand local diocese turn over relevant documents and encourage other victims of sexual abuse by clergy to come forward and provide additional evidence to add to the complaint".
In addition to The Hague, SNAP members will visit Amsterdam, Brussels, Berlin, Paris, Vienna, London, Dublin, Warsaw and Madrid before returning to Rome to "bring the case to the Vatican's door".
The Roman Catholic Church is struggling to deal with rising anger and a string of lawsuits following thousands of child abuse claims in Europe and the United States.
Pope Benedict has expressed shame and sorrow over the clerical sex scandal and has called on bishops around the world to come up with common guidelines against paedophiles by May 2012. |
發表於 2011-9-13 06:52
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