DENVER (CO)
Catholic Online
2/1/2006
CNA
DENVER, Colo. (CNA) – Colorado’s three Catholic bishops blasted proposed state legislation which would lift the statutes of limitation on sexual-abuse cases, noting that this would unequally punish the Catholic Church while exempting public-school teachers and coaches accused of abuse.
A joint statement was released Jan. 31 here by Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput, Colorado Springs Bishop Michael Sheridan, and Pueblo Bishop Arthur Tafoya.
Recently, a number of Colorado state representatives, including Sen. Joan Fitz-Gerald, offered related bills to the Colorado General Assembly which seek to eliminate or modify statutes of limitation allowing sexual-abuse victims up to 40 years before filing suits against Catholic and other private institutions in the state.
In their statement, the bishops explained that they agree “that the sexual abuse of a minor is a serious crime and a grave sin” and conceded that “the proposed pieces of legislation, whatever their final form, and whether they’re pulled from consideration or move forward, have sparked an important discussion.”