They're not ours ...

So, the Vatican came up with a novel excuse to insulate themselves from lawsuits relating to the priest sex scandal:

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican on Monday will make its most detailed defense yet against claims that it is liable for U.S. bishops who allowed priests to molest children, saying bishops are not its employees and that a 1962 Vatican document did not require them to keep quiet, The Associated Press has learned.

The Vatican will make the arguments in a motion to dismiss a federal lawsuit on jurisdictional grounds filed in Louisville, Ky., but it could affect other efforts to sue the Holy See.

...

Hey, the Vatican says "jump" and all the little penguins ask "how high". In my book, that tells me Rome is in charge. I'm sure if a priest advocated a woman's right to choose or for female priests or to accept same-sex couples in matrimony, the Pope would toss them out so quick heads would spin.

Great thanks to Oliver Willis for the link.