January 31, 2006

Roman Catholic Bishops Bill Deals With Child Sexual Abuse

DENVER (CO)
TheDenverChannel.com

DENVER -- Colorado's three Roman Catholic Bishops issued a joint statement criticizing a measure that would lift the statute of limitation for child sexual abuse lawsuits for two years.

"On a matter as ugly and grave as the sexual abuse of minors, exactly the same civil and criminal penalties, financial damages, time frames for litigation and statutes of limitations should apply against both public and private institutions and their agents," the statement said issued Monday said.

It was signed by Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs and Bishop Arthur Tafoya of Pueblo.

Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald and House Majority Leader Alice Madden introduced their measure Friday making it easier for victims to sue the church and other private groups by extending the statute of limitations in cases in which an institution or another person could be held "vicariously liable" for a perpetrator's acts.

Posted by kshaw at January 31, 2006 07:55 AM