Catholic Church in Connecticut Says Sexual Abuse Claims Threaten the Church

[Faeelin]

Hartford, Connecticut (CNN) -- A bill in Connecticut's legislature that would remove the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse cases has sparked a fervent response from the state's Roman Catholic bishops, who released a letter to parishioners Saturday imploring them to oppose the measure.

Under current Connecticut law, sexual abuse victims have 30 years past their 18th birthday to file a lawsuit. The proposed change to the law would rescind that statute of limitations.

The proposed change to the law would put "all Church institutions, including your parish, at risk," says the letter, which was signed by Connecticut's three Roman Catholic bishops.

The letter is posted on the Web site of the Connecticut Catholic Public Affairs Conference, the public policy and advocacy office of Connecticut's Catholic bishops. It asks parishioners to contact their legislators in opposition of the bill.

The "legislation would undermine the mission of the Catholic Church in Connecticut, threatening our parishes, our schools, and our Catholic Charities," the letter says.

The Catholic archdiocese of Hartford also published a pulpit announcement on its Web site, which was to be read during Mass on Sunday, urging parishioners to express opposition to the bill.

The bill has been revised to address some of the church's concerns about frivolous abuse claims against it, according to Connecticut state Rep. Beth Bye, one of the bill's sponsors.

"The church didn't recognize that this bill makes improvements," Bye said. "The victims -- their lives have been changed and some will never recover from years of sexual abuse. For me, it's about giving them access to the courts."

Under the bill's provisions, anyone older than 48 who makes a sex abuse claim against the church would need to join an existing claim filed by someone 48 or younger. Older claimants would need to show substantial proof that they were abused.

"They were worried about frivolous lawsuits and so we made the bar high," Bye said.

The bill does not target the Catholic Church, she said.

The bishops' letter raised concerns that the bill would allow claims that are 70 years or older, in which "key individuals are deceased, memories have been faded, and documents and other evidence have been lost." The letter said that the majority of cases would be driven by "trial lawyers hoping to profit from these cases."

The bill passed in Connecticut's House of Representatives, and Bye said the state Senate should vote on it in the next week or two.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/04/11/connecticut.abuse.bill/index.html?hpt=T1

sad thing is that once you get past the initial feeling of outrage, there is a point here. But Jesus Christ, talk about insensitive.

[HisMajestyBOB]

The proposed change to the law would put "all Church institutions, including your parish, at risk," says the letter, which was signed by Connecticut's three Roman Catholic bishops.

The church is built on molestation!

[Eddie Teach]

30 years is plenty. Enough with the witch hunt. 

[Martinus]

While I agree with the concept of statute of limitations on all crimes (with a possible exception of crimes against humanity, war crimes and the like), I find it deliciously ironic that the church would so openly and brazenly say it's about their financial interests (rather than any trifles such as weighing the interests of justice against right to fair trial and rights of the victim).

I say burn the motherfuckers down. They never failed to jump on the moral panic bandwagon in the past when it served their interests - now it's their fucking turn.

[Alexandru H.]

While I agree with the concept of statute of limitations on all crimes (with a possible exception of crimes against humanity, war crimes and the like), I find it deliciously ironic that the church would so openly and brazenly say it's about their financial interests (rather than any trifles such as weighing the interests of justice against right to fair trial and rights of the victim).

I say burn the motherfuckers down. They never failed to jump on the moral panic bandwagon in the past when it served their interests - now it's their fucking turn.

So what you're saying is that we should prosecute men that have sexual relations with younger men... I actually agree with you 

[Martinus]

 

[Faeelin]

30 years is plenty. Enough with the witch hunt. 

Why is it a witch hunt?

[Eddie Teach]

I don't think it is a witch hunt as far as law enforcement is concerned. But it is one in the media, and that is what drives laws like this.

[Admiral Yi]

Witch hunt suggests a purely fabricated charge.  The present situation seems closer to a freeding frenzy.

[Faeelin]

Witch hunt suggests a purely fabricated charge.  The present situation seems closer to a freeding frenzy.

I am not convinced the legislature of Connecticut is driven by the thought of trial attorneys gleefully wringing their hands and going "Now's our chance! All we need to do is find people who claim they were sexuall abused and unable to testify because of the power of the Church in their or their family's life. We know that people were afraid/ashamed to testify about abuse until recently; it would not surprise me if there were older cases as well.

[Eddie Teach]

The legislature is driven by the moral outrage of the populace.

[DontSayBanana]

Yes, there are a lot of older cases, because some of the older ones frankly didn't think they'd get anywhere going up against the big, bad Catholic monolith.  Either way, can you seriously say charges for violent rape should have a clock ticking on them?  Most other crimes, sure, but that's one that doesn't get any less severe with age.

BTW, what you guys don't realize is even if they lift the statute of limitations, the ones that have already expired don't get reinstated.  No ex post facto laws in the US.

[Neil]

Either way, can you seriously say charges for violent rape should have a clock ticking on them?

Yes.

[Neil]

While I agree with the concept of statute of limitations on all crimes (with a possible exception of crimes against humanity, war crimes and the like),

Possible?  We have this argument every time some guy who was an 18-year old concentration camp guard gets caught.  You don't actually agree with the concept of a statute of limitations at all.

[The Brain]

The destruction of Catholicism must be one of the top priorities.