The article does miss the opportunity to make it clear that the women's civil rights were violated, only going so far as to say their treatment was 'demeaning' and the women were treated like they were 'dangerous.' The women had a permit, and wearing buttons or stoles is not a crime nor a danger. No police intervention and confiscation was warranted.  The article backs off from making the conclusion that is obvious -- the women's civil rights were violated !!! not that there could be any redress in Vatican City anymore than one has rights in North Korea or Saudi Arabia. Maybe the women witnesses themselves are clueless what happened to them. Otherwise a great article. If I was wearing a button downtown, or a stole, or a scarf and a cop came up and took it off me -- well, actually such a violation of civil rights would never happen here.  Only in uncivilized places.