You're not the boss of me

Some news for bishops ..... the pope isn't your boss! Or at least so the Vatican seems to be asserting -- Ineffability defense? Vatican argues bishops not employees, courts shouldn't examine apostolic relationship: Updated ....

[...] The Vatican is expected to assert that bishops aren't its employees because they aren't paid by Rome, don't act on Rome's behalf and aren't controlled day-to-day by the pope — factors courts use to determine whether employers are liable for the actions of their employees, Lena [the Vatican's lawyer] told the AP. He said he would suggest to the court that it should avoid using the religious nature of the relationship between bishops and the pope as a basis for civil liability because it entangles the court in an analysis of religious doctrine that dates back to the apostles .....

McMurry [plaintiff's attorney] has alleged that the Vatican had clear and direct control over bishops ..... If a bishop wants to spend more than $5 million he must ask permission from Rome, and if he wants to take a three-month sabbatical, he needs the Holy See's OK, said McMurry's main expert witness, the Rev. Thomas P. Doyle, a canon lawyer who worked at the Vatican's U.S. nunziature. "For the defense to claim that what's necessary is to show day-to-day monitoring is unrealistic," Doyle said. "That is not a viable argument to show the Vatican has direct control over the bishops." .....

Way to take responsibility - not.