A federal appeals court has ruled that victims of priest sexual abuse can sue the Vatican. The priest who's the focus of the lawsuit allegedly molested at least three boys in Chicago.

A three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals said yesterday that victims can sue the Vatican -- even though it's a sovereign nation.

Jeff Anderson is one of the attorneys representing the alleged victim.

ANDERSON: There is no safe harbor, according to this court and the one below it for the Vatican when it comes to sexual abuse by these priests.

The suit alleges that the late Father Andrew Ronan had molested a child in Ireland, admitted it, and was moved to Chicago, where he molested at least three others. He was then sent to Oregon, where he's accused of abusing the victim who filed the lawsuit.

The court ruled the suit could go forward based on the argument the priest was an employee of the Vatican, but it knocked out some other arguments.

An attorney for the Vatican told the AP he was pleased the court had narrowed the scope of the lawsuit.