High Court Overturns Church Liability in Historic Abuse Case

Australia's High Court rules Catholic Church not liable for priest's abuse due to lack of employment relationship.

The High Court of Australia overturned a previous ruling that held the Catholic Church vicariously liable for abuse by a priest not directly employed by the church.
The case involved Father Bryan Coffey, who was accused of abusing a five-year-old boy in 1971, with earlier courts ruling the church liable despite Coffey not being an official employee.
The High Court emphasized that vicarious liability is confined to employer-employee relationships, rejecting broader interpretations.
The ruling is significant as it limits the scope of vicarious liability, potentially affecting future claims against religious and other institutions.
The decision also addressed the use of permanent stays in abuse cases, ruling against such stays in related cases involving the Salvation Army and the Queensland government.