Nine alleged victims of the Rev. Bernard Preynat have summoned Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, 68, as a defendant in France's most prominent clergy sex abuse case yet. However, Ladaria won't be present during the three-day trial since the Vatican has invoked his diplomatic immunity. Barbarin, who maintains his innocence, encouraged Preynat's alleged victims to take their reports of being abused during the 1970s and 1980s to judicial authorities. The difficulty in bringing the case to trial reflects the challenges that victims of clergy abuse encounter.

Source: ABC News January 06, 2019 10:58 UTC