COLUMBUS (OH)
Ohio News Network
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Roman Catholic officials are fighting a legislative proposal that would allow lawsuits over decades-old allegations of child abuse.
Victims' groups are trying to counter the Roman Catholic lobbying, which has included two bishops meeting privately with the House speaker. The Senate approved the bill last month.
The provision will not promote healing for victims and could endanger the rights of the accused to defend themselves, Columbus Bishop Frederick Campbell said Wednesday. Campbell and Toledo Bishop Leonard Blair met with House Speaker Jon Husted last week.
"I don't think it promotes any form of justice," Campbell said. "The whole idea of the statute of limitations is to permit a right of defense, and after years and years and years the right of defense just evaporates."
Posted by kshaw at April 28, 2005 09:05 AM