abuse , '' the suit says . `` The case against the Holy See and its officials is completely without merit , '' Lena said . `` Most of the complaint rehashes old theories already rejected by U.S. courts . '' Lena added , `` With regard to Murphy himself , the Holy See and its officials knew nothing of his crimes until decades after the abuse occurred , and had no role whatsoever in causing plaintiff 's injuries . '' Benedict was named as a defendant because he has the ultimate authority to remove priests and because of his involvement in reviewing sex abuse cases when he was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger , the suit says . Peter Isely , Midwest director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests , estimated the Vatican is investigating 4,000 cases of sex abuse by church employees . The lawsuit aims to change church policies and practices that conceal sex offenders , Isely said . `` It 's going to protect children , we hope , around the world , '' he said , `` This is a historic day and hopefully this is going to result in historic changes . ''
Rome , Italy -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Vatican said a lawsuit accusing it and Pope Benedict XVI of covering up sexual abuse by a priest at a Catholic school in the United States has no merit . `` While legitimate lawsuits have been filed by abuse victims , this is not one of them , '' Vatican lawyer Jeffrey Lena said Friday . `` Instead , the lawsuit represents an attempt to use tragic events as a platform for a broader attack . '' The lawsuit by an unnamed Illinois man demands the Vatican release the names of thousands of Catholic priests that the suit says have `` credible allegations of sexual misconduct '' against them . The alleged victim , who is now an adult , says he was molested by the Rev. Lawrence Murphy while a student at St. John 's School for the Deaf , according to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Milwaukee , Wisconsin . `` The defendant , -LSB- the -RSB- Holy See , has known about the widespread problem of childhood sexual abuse committed by its clergy for centuries , but has covered up that abuse and thereby perpetuated the