Vatican sets out defence against US sex abuse claims

THE Vatican was last night expected to make its most detailed defence yet against claims that it is liable for US bishops who allowed priests to molest children.

It was expected to say bishops are not its employees and that a 1962 Vatican document did not require them to keep quiet.

The Vatican was to make the arguments in a motion to dismiss a US lawsuit on jurisdictional grounds filed in Louisville, Kentucky, but it could affect other efforts to sue the Holy See.