PENNSYLVANIA
The Morning Call
Last week, newspapers were reporting on new state legislation that would address child sex crimes. One bill, HB 2300, would open a one-year window whereby all clergy sex-abuse victims, regardless of the time of their abuse, could bring a civil suit against the church. The church would not be permitted to use the expiration of the statute of limitations as a defense. The church claims such a window would be unfair and could potentially bankrupt it.
As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, I wholeheartedly support this pending legislation. However, it is important to address questions and concerns surrounding this proposal.
Would a one-year window resulting in hundreds of lawsuits bankrupt the church? No. Unquestionably, there would be many lawsuits. Many people were preyed upon by priests, and put in harm's way by the Catholic hierarchy. But the church's contention that it would be bankrupted is a public-relations scare tactic, aimed at gaining empathy from the masses and diverting attention away from the real issue — their culpability in innumerable child rape cases.
First, the church is self-insured and has other, multiple extensive insurance policies. Yes, the insurance companies would put up a stink, but in every other diocese across the country that has been hit by clergy abuse lawsuits, insurance companies settled with the diocese and paid a portion of the claims.