Court rules that Holocaust survivors' lawsuit against the Vatican can proceed

Catholic News Agency ^ | Jun. 15, 2005

[Jane_N]

San Francisco, Jun. 15, 2005 (CNA) - A ruling this week by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld an earlier decision that Holocaust survivors can continue their claims against the Vatican for the restitution of funds plundered from former Yugoslavia during the Second World War.

The majority of the victims of genocide in Croatia during World War II were Orthodox Christian Serbs. More than 500,000 of them were liquidated by the Croatian Ustasha, with the backing of some Catholic clerics. These funds have been referred to as the Ustasha or Croatian treasury.

According to a report by Matt Abbott, the San Francisco court denied a Vatican petition for reconsideration and a request for an extraordinary en banc hearing. It also issued an amended opinion which indicated the Italian Peace Treaty of 1947 did not preclude the lawsuit because the Vatican was not a signatory to the treaty.

[Lion in Winter]

According to you, a person who is appalled by the the holocaust is a person to to snicker at???

I never knew you were in favor of nazis getting away with NOT only murder but robbery as well.

Oh, well, takes all kinds to make a world. Even those who snicker at those appalled by the holocaust.

[SJackson]

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[Alouette]

About five years ago, the President of Croatia made a state visit to Israel. He made the usual pilgrimage to Yad Vashem and spologized for the Holocaust in the name of the Croatian people.

The survivors could have taken their case directly to him. Perhaps they did.

The Church is not pure as the wind-drifted snow. There are plenty of looted treasures from massacred Jews, Huegenots, Cathars, Templars, heretics and accused witches that have found their way into the Vatican catacombs.

[Lion in Winter]

Well, dick dustbin didn't post to me. You did.

I am trying to get somebody to post some photos and stories about Jasenovic.

You know about the camp. Good!

Was shocking to say the least, when a year or so ago some apparently well educated Freepers, where totally unaware that Jasenovic existed or Croatian nazis were responsible for the hundreds of thousands of innocents who died there.

IF, this lawsuit ONLY brings out more information to the public about this shameless camp in Croatia.... then, some good will come of it.

I actually doubt that any money will ever be paid to the victims or their families. However, the information to the public about the past crimes, will be even more important.

[Alouette]

FRmail me to be added or removed from this Judaic/pro-Israel ping list.

WARNING: This is a high volume ping list

[Lion in Winter]

Since we humans are imperfect.... it would follow that man's institutions will also bear man's imperfection.

I just hope that the information about the Croatian holocaust will be made more evident to the world because of this trial.

Did the Croatian President also make any apology to the Serbian Christians or the Gypsies for the Croatia's part in their mass murder during WWII at Jasenovic???

As I understand it, No, he did not.

[a freedom-loving italian]

And yes, there is evidence that there were SOME Roman Catholic clergy were actively involved with it.

Sadly true, and that is the reason why nobody has ever been convicted for those crimes.

As an Italian, I say that the Vatican did a lot of evil things during the 20th century.

BTW I am not criticizing the Christian religion in any way, i am criticizing that small but very powerful foreign state called the Vatican

[Lion in Winter]

Well, as I posted to Alouette, man is imperfect and so are his institutions. Perhaps the Vatican was involved in the money-end of the situation. But, somehow, I just cannot believe they knew ALL about where the money came from. I hope they didn't!!

I place blame for Jasenovic on Croatians like pavelic and other like him and those who followed his commands. They were the murderous bigots and who hated any person not of the Croatian persuasion. You know like Jews, Gypsies and Serbians.

The one thing I want to see happen is that MORE Americans discover the truth about Jasenovic and learn from its horror.

Too many deniers of the holocaust roam our planet and more are born daily. But what is worse.... there are just too many people, called islamics, who now see nothing wrong with mass murder and persecution of those different from themselves.

[GipperGal]

Why are they suing the Church for this? Is it because:

"More than 500,000 of them were liquidated by the Croatian Ustasha, with the backing of some Catholic clerics."(emphasis added)

What the hell? By that standard, Holocaust victims could sue just about everyone because I'm sure you could find that the atrocities they suffered had "the back of some" members of any given organization. Why not sue Planned Parenthood because the Nazis forced sterilization on people?

[onyx]

What the hell, indeed. Look at some of the posts here.

[JasonC]

Who cares? What has any of it to do with San Francisco, or the Vatican? Sue dead Croats if you like. Croatia did not survive the war as a state, its assets evaporated.

[GipperGal]

I overheard somebody say something today that made me sick. He said he looks forward to the day one hundred years from now when a McDonalds is located where the Vatican used to be. That shows you the sort of anti-Catholic hatred we're up against. It's open season on the Church.

[Baraonda]

While they're at it they can sue the rest of the world. LOL!

Another frivolous suit.

[a freedom-loving italian]

I just cannot believe they knew ALL about where the money came from. I hope they didn't!!

I cannot believe that too, but I am sure that the Vatican was not "unhappy" about the fight against the Orthodox Serbia

Too many deniers of the holocaust roam our planet and more are born daily. But what is worse.... there are just too many people, called islamics, who now see nothing wrong with mass murder and persecution of those different from themselves.

Very true. I am a very open-minded and tolerant person, and usually I don't condemn an entire religion/race/people for the evil deeds of a few extremists. But in the case of Islam I am not willing to co-exist with muslims until they show with concrete facts their will to fight terrorism (if there is such a will at all!)

[onyx]

JMJ!

[Lion in Winter]

"What the hell", is absolutely correct. Have you read about Jasenovic?? It was hell on earth.

Like I said, I doubt if ANY money will be paid. Afterall, it was "JUST" Jews, Gypsies and Serbians who were murdered by the hundreds of thousands by Croatian nazis.

Why bother your little head with all that mass murder???

And, so the Roman Church has nothing to worry about. Does it?

The world gets more information about the holocaust and NOBODY pays a dime.

Now, just calm down. Nobody will ever be able to get the goods on or touch your church. You have not one thing to worry about. LOL!!

[kstewskis]

In-friggin-sane...

I think the 9th Circus has been smoking the wacky tabaky again.

[onyx]

Actually the 9th circus is rife with leftist pigs.

[GipperGal]

Mr. Lion,

I'm just trying to understand this whole situation. How exactly is the Church financially responsible to pay the victims of these horrible crimes?

[NeoCaveman]

A ruling this week by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

The most reversed court in the nation.