Vatican court absolves former altar boy in sex abuse trial

By NICOLE WINFIELD
Associated Press

VATICAN CITY (AP) — A Vatican tribunal has absolved a former altar boy of charges that he molested a younger boy in the Vatican’s youth seminary. The court ruled Wednesday in the first clergy sexual abuse trial to be heard by the pope’s criminal court. The three-judge panel acquitted Rev. Gabriele Martinelli of some charges and ruled others couldn’t be punished. The former rector of the seminary, the Rev. Enrico Radice, was similarly absolved. The case concerned the closed world of the St. Pius X youth seminary inside the Vatican walls near where Pope Francis lives. The seminary is a residence for boys aged 12 to 18, who serve as altar boys at papal Masses in St. Peter’s Basilica.