Catholic Church Wants More Rights For Child Molesters
Allan Doeksen
Bill would help those claiming child sex abuse
http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/religion/323163,CST-NWS-leg02.article
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.
But because of their age at the time of the abuse, childhood victims
may not report wrongdoing until it is too late to take legal measures,
advocates said.
"This is an opportunity for victims to have their say in court -- to
receive some compensation, along with justice," Illinois Coalition
Against Sexual Assault executive director Polly Poskin said of Link's
original proposal.
Over the last three decades, the church has been bombarded with
lawsuits that have netted alleged abuse victims millions and prompted
the church to revamp its policies.
But Barbara Blaine, president of Survivors Network of those Abused by
Priests, said measures already enacted by the church don't do enough
to protect children.
"We feel that kids are still left at risk and that the climate that
allowed this abuse to fester for decades still exists," Blaine said.
"There are victims who still want their day in court."
If the original proposal becomes law, the measure would open the flood
gates for lawsuits concerning abuse that happened years ago which the
church had no knowledge of, said Bob Gilligan, a spokesman with the
Catholic Conference of Illinois.
'Admission of wrongdoing'
"It becomes harder and harder to even begin to defend yourself against
allegations," Gilligan said. "Parishes close, priests die, people move
on."
Instead, the church would like to see a measure which does more to
protect children and help victims heal, Gilligan said.
But according to Poskin, the church's opposition to the measure shows
it has something to hide.
''The opposition is an indication of the admission of wrongdoing by
the church,'' Poskin said.
A spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Chicago declined to comment on the bill.
Cardinal Francis George, in his April 1 column for the archdiocese
newspaper Catholic New World, said the church has implemented a number
of measures to respond to victim accusations. The column does not
reference Link's proposal, although the senator said he has discussed
the legislation with George.
Bill being revised
''The story reiterated in the national media is simply one of
cover-up, but there is no cover-up here,'' George wrote.
In February, a committee of law enforcement officials, child welfare
advocates and civic leaders assembled by George released a report
saying the Chicago Archdiocese had done a good job taking steps to
handle the abuse.
In response to the church's concerns, Link scrapped the original
language of the bill -- which was first suggested by Blaine's group --
and is talking with church and victim groups to hammer out a
compromise. Link said he's optimistic a bill can be passed this
spring.
''There's a problem and a concern out there that we have to address,''
said Link, who calls himself a devout Catholic. ''Personally, it hurts
me to even have to deal with this.''
If you want to send a letter to Bob Gilligan from the Catholic
Conference of Illinois, his address is as follows:
CATHOLIC CONFERENCE OF ILLINOIS
Mr. Robert F. Gilligan, Executive Director
65 E. Wacker Place #1620
Chicago, IL 60601-7296