Curiouser and curiouser

Three bishops resigned this week for their roles in clergy abuse cases -- one for sexually abusing a boy, one for beating youngsters at a Catholic home for children, and the third for covering up cases of sexual abuse.

Meanwhile, the National Catholic Reporter has a disturbing story about a cardinal who had "intervened, against the wishes of a U.S. bishop, on behalf of an American abuser priest" who'd "sexually abused dozens of minor boys." The story goes on to say:

Moreover, [Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos] implicated the late John Paul II in that decision. "After consulting the pope ... I wrote a letter to the bishop congratulating him as a model of a father who does not hand over his sons," [Castrillon was quoted as saying]."

Also, at least one US lawsuit has named Benedict XVI as a defendant for the Church's negligence in protecting children who were sexually abused. In a response that said the suit is "without merit," the Vatican also invoked the pope's "diplomatic immunity from prosecution in other countries." It's funny how legal principles suddenly matter to the Vatican ... oh wait ... it isn't funny at all.