Catholic Church Loses Abuse Liability Appeal in UK Court

RTE News
July 12, 2012

http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0712/uk-court-rules-catholic-church-liable-for-priests.html

The appeal was dismissed by a two-to-one majority

The decision was announced in an action that has been described as raising "an issue of wide general importance in respect of claims against the Catholic Church.''

In the High Court in November, a judge gave a decision in favour of a woman, who claimed she was sexually assaulted as a child by a priest of the Portsmouth Diocese.

Giving his decision on a preliminary issue in the damages action by the woman, the judge held that, in law, the Church "may be vicariously liable" for the priest's alleged wrongdoings.

The trustees of the Portsmouth Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust were given leave to appeal against his decision and that challenge was heard by three judges in London in May.

Today, the appeal was dismissed by a two-to-one majority.

In a statement issued after the ruling, the trustees of Portsmouth Diocese said the appeal was brought to achieve clarity "as to the nature and extent of the bishop's liability for the actions of diocesan priests".

It added: "We had not just the right but the duty to ask the Court of Appeal to hear the different arguments in this case, not least because of the far-reaching implications to faith and other voluntary organisations of extending vicarious liability in this way."