Church opposes more time for victims to sue - Business is business

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/religion/323163,CST-NWS-leg02.article

Bill would help those claiming child sex abuse

April 2, 2007
BY WHITNEY WOODWARD Sun-Times Springfield Bureau

SPRINGFIELD -- A bid to let all childhood sexual abuse victims sue those who harmed them -- even decades after the fact -- has prompted the Catholic Church to take on victim advocates in an effort to kill the measure.

Sen. Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills) introduced a bill that would give victims of childhood sexual abuse a two-year period after the bill becomes law in which to sue those responsible, but gutted it after protests from church officials.

The bill would have opened a window for lawsuits even if the statute of limitations -- or time period in which legal action can be taken -- had expired.

Four years ago, lawmakers extended the window during which childhood sexual abuse victims can file a suit to five years after "discovering" or recognizing the abuse, or by the age of 28, whichever is later.

[BayCityProgressive]

1. The Church really is disgusting

For the life of me, I can't understand why the church goers don't just stop donating until certain issues are resolved.

[Rosemary2205]

3. They have stopped donating - in massive numbers.

The catholic church generally in the US is in BIG financial trouble. Parishes and catholic schools are closing or merging all over the country. Charitable programs, especially St. Vincent de Paul are having to gut their programs.

[NNN0LHI]

4. The Vatican has huge investments in banking, insurance, chemicals, steel, construction, real estate

I wonder why they would begin by gutting their charitable programs at the first sign of trouble?

Don

[Rosemary2205]

5. the American archdioceses are all independent.

financially each diocese is responsible for itself and it's parishes. The vatican does not financially bail out American parishes or dioceses.
About the only thing they will do is approve a transfer of molester priests outside the US, usually to the Vatican, to protect them from the long arm of the law.

[NNN0LHI]

6. But American archdioceses send money to the Vatican regularly

I assumed that would have been a two way street? Thats what I get for assuming stuff.

Don

[Rosemary2205]

7. The vatican does LOAN money to Dioceses

They do make non interest loans to the Diocese and then the Diocese can loan that money to parishes who need to expand their facilities or to catholic schools for improvements or whatever. But the money does have to paid back to the Vatican.

I am not catholic but this is how I am told it works by someone who works for the local Archdiocese.

[MADem]

2. How fucking DISGUSTING. Why not a time limit on MURDER, too, while we're at it?

A two year limit on the murder of child molesters, how's that sound? Kill the molester, escape justice for two years, and you're home free?

I realize the State Senator's heart is in the right place--he's providing people who are finally coming to terms with abuse the vehicle to pursue justice. That said, though, quite frankly, I oppose ANY statute of limitations on child abuse. Some people are afraid, some people have family they don't want to know, there are a host of reasons.