No Vatican Respondeat Superior Liability For Abusive Priest

The Oregonian and  AP report that an Oregon federal district court yesterday, in a ruling from the bench, dismissed respondeat superior claims against the Vatican in a sexual abuse case brought against a priest who allegedly was moved to Portland despite knowledge of a history of sexual abuse.  In Doe v. Holy See, which was on remand from the 9th Circuit (see prior posting), district judge Michael Mosman concluded that plaintiff had not shown that there was an "employment relationship" between now-deceased priest, Rev. Andrew Ronan and the Vatican.  An employment relationship is a necessary prerequisite to respondeat superior liability. The abuse victim's suit however continues against Ronan's religious order, and his attorneys say they will appeal yesterday's ruling regarding the Vatican.