What do you think of Geoffrey Robertson's attack on Pope Benedict?

[ninwa]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/16/3013313.htm?section=justin

Australian-born human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson QC has launched a blistering attack on Pope Benedict on the eve of the pontiff's controversial state visit to Britain.

Mr Robertson says the Pope should resign for failing to act on child abuse in the Catholic Church.

He also argues that the Catholic Church's canon law does not give justice to victims and should be ditched.

And the internationally recognised lawyer repeated his recent characterisation of the Vatican as a "rogue state", saying countries like Australia are wasting millions of dollars in maintaining embassies there.

[slothpomba]

I don't know about rogue state, i mean theres historical reasons why it is around (Holy roman empire anyone) not to mention the massive flame war catholics were to start if there was talk of it being dissolved.

I find it disgusting how they institutionalised cover ups in the church, however. I'm not sure to what degree that it is the current popes fault (its been happening for awhile) but he certainly hasnt been taking an ultra hardline stance on cutting out abuse.

Someone should pay though.

Who's to say the popes replacement would be any better? They'd draw his replacement from the same similar minded group of cardinals they drew the pope from, i doubt there'd be much change..

[Cianyx]

I don't see how asking the Pope to resign would resolve anything at all. If he's referring to the cover-up of the cases, it is simply misdirected hate. It wasn't because of the pope, church pedos are rampant, it is caused by the system.

The pope is the agent of the Vatican. He is expendable. But of course, criticise Christianity and you risk losing your supporters.

[Glockmeister]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/16/3013313.htm?section=justin

Australian-born human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson QC has launched a blistering attack on Pope Benedict on the eve of the pontiff's controversial state visit to Britain.

Mr Robertson says the Pope should resign for failing to act on child abuse in the Catholic Church.

He also argues that the Catholic Church's canon law does not give justice to victims and should be ditched.

And the internationally recognised lawyer repeated his recent characterisation of the Vatican as a "rogue state", saying countries like Australia are wasting millions of dollars in maintaining embassies there.

It's the same QC that argued that the Vatican wasn't a state because it's not a member of the UN. He might be a great media lawyer, but he obviously knows fuck all about international law.

[Kotza]

Why is everywhere the pope visits "controversial"?