Nothing like a summer vacation to lift your spirits, especially after an especially stressful winter and spring. Pope Benedict, currently staying at the papal summer residence of Castel Gondolfo, has just gotten another reason to relax after his scandal-plagued Year for Priests: the three plaintiffs in a Kentucky clergy sex abuse lawsuit against the Vatican, who had hoped to question the pope himself under oath, have decided to drop their case. (There are still two other lawsuits pending against the Holy See, which victims’ attorney Jeff Anderson says will proceed.)

In semi-related news, the Vatican has rejected the resignation offers from two Irish bishops, related to the decades-long clergy abuse scandal and cover-up in that country.

Not surprisingly, this news has upset the Survivors of those Abused by Priests (SNAP).

What do you think? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below.

*Click here to subscribe to Belief Beat and click here to follow Belief Beat on Twitter.