COLUMBUS (OH)
The Beacon Journal
CARRIE SPENCER GHOSE
Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Roman Catholic Church officials are fighting a bill that would allow victims of sexual abuse by priests to file lawsuits over alleged abuse that happened as early as 1970.
Columbus Bishop Frederick Campbell and other church officials were to testify Thursday to a House committee. Church officials have been lobbying against the bill since the Senate passed it unanimously in March.
An advocate for the victims said the lineup of those scheduled to speak is significant for who's missing - more Ohio bishops.
Church officials don't oppose the main part of the bill, requiring church employees to report suspected abuse. They want to remove a provision that allows alleged victims to sue over past abuse for one to two years from the bill's passage, said Timothy Luckhaupt, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Ohio.