Vatican as Defendant

Reported today in the WSJ is a ruling by the Cincinnati Circuit Court of Appeals allowing a lawsuit to move forward that may implicate the Vatican in the U.S. abuse scandal. My understanding is that the U.S. Bishops are fairly autonomous in matters of this detail, punishing or covering up for clerical abuse, and that the Vatican will not be liable. I see the latest step as simply a move to "go for the money" and I hope it fails.