Windows closing for clergy sex abuse victims to sue Catholic church

[trotsky]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/13/catholic-church-sex-abuse-minnesota-hawaii-victims-lawsuit

The courthouse doors will soon close on victims of clergy sex abuse in Minnesota and Hawaii when a brief window to bring charges against the Catholic church expires.

Statute of limitations laws have made it nearly impossible for adults who were abused as children to put their claims before a court, even after revelations in 2002 about decades of widespread child sex abuse by Catholic priests.

But in May 2013, Minnesota created a three-year window for past victims of abuse to file child sex abuse lawsuits against the church and other institutions, even after the statute of limitations has closed. This was a life-changing opportunity for people like James Hlavka, who told the Guardian he has “lived hell on earth” since being abused by a priest from age 10 to 15 in the 1960s.

What? Why not just extend the windows? What evil force could possibly be working AGAINST abuse victims?

State legislators have pushed for wider windows and softened statute of limitations laws, but find themselves up against the Catholic church’s formidable lobby.

Oh.

[rug]

1. Much as it may dismay you, the Statute of Limitations applies to all cases, not just priests.

[AtheistCrusader]

2. Much as it may dismay you, the catholic political lobby does indeed get its money somwhere.

Money used to lobby against things like extending the statute of limitations, used to lobby against the passage of, and later sue the government over the ACA to strip out birth control provisions, suing states over equal rights requirements for adoption, things like that.

The second biggest spender was the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which spent under $27 million in 2009 on “policy activity expenses.” The national body of Catholic leaders has been active in coming out against same-sex marriage and for laws that restrict abortion rights. The number also includes spending on national media and communications efforts. The bishops’ conference, which in total spent $143 million in 2009, also does significant work on poverty reduction and disaster relief.

[rug]

3. Do you think the RCC is the sole entity opposing the extension of the Statute of Limitations?

Do you know the purpose of the Statute of Limitations?

[AtheistCrusader]

4. I know the purpose, and I am aware they are not alone in opposing it.

I assume you have a relevant and interesting point here somewhere.

[rug]

5. I do.

Hint: it's not dredging the internet for incomplete reports to advance a vendetta against the RCC.

[AtheistCrusader]

7. Like Physician Assisted Suicide, the RCC is on the wrong side of that issue.

And it seems painfully cynical in holding that position, since it is exposed to millions of dollars worth of judgments, and there have been so many compelling jury-convincing cases already.

It doesn't have to be this way. The Church could have done the right thing long ago.

[struggle4progress]

11. You oppose statutes of limitation?

[AtheistCrusader]

12. Nowhere in this thread did I make that claim, statement, or inference.

Try again.

[cleanhippie]

6. This must be exactly what the laity wants their money spent on.

After all, why would they keep putting money into the church if they were opposed to this?

And then along come the apologists to deflect and defend.

[trotsky]

8. I figured that's what was happening.

There will always be those who value their church and protecting its clergy more than they care about the victims. Let me guess - someone is whining about this happening too long ago to matter?

[struggle4progress]

10. The Minnesota statutes on this don't seem to mention anything about churches

Currently about 4800 children are abused each year in MN: about 800 are sexually abused

About 2/3 of all abuse is by a family member

Institutional settings (such as juvenile detention) may pose special risks

[struggle4progress]

9. Minnesota in May 2013 provided a 3-year window for otherwise time-barred actions

on claims of sexual abuse. That temporary waiver of the SoL will expire this May.