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	News from the State Capitol Boston.com April 4, 2007 http://www.boston.com/news/local/connecticut/articles/2007/04/04/news_from_the_state_capitol/ Hartford, Conn. — Representatives of the Catholic Church voiced concern Wednesday about a bill that would extend the time frame for people sexually abused as children to seek a criminal prosecution or sue in civil court. The legislation, being considered by the Judiciary Committee, would increase the statute of limitations from 30 to 40 years from the date the accuser turned 18 years old. State legislators set the 30-year limit in 2002. "The bill before you threatens to deplete the resources -- human and financial -- that support the charitable works of the church," said Nancy Matthews, chancellor of the Diocese of Bridgeport. "The current law, passed in 2002, has already resulted in the additional payment of millions of dollars not just to victims but to the attorneys who represent them." The dioceses of Bridgeport, Hartford and Norwich have settled with victims of various priest sex abuse cases in recent years. Richard Colbert, counsel to the Connecticut Catholic Conference, questioned how someone could defend themselves after 40 years, considering some witnesses could be dead or their memories have become unreliable. He said 30 years is enough time for a victim of sexual abuse to come forward. "I think 30 years is enough time to do that. It's just that simple," he said. Rep. Michael Lawlor, D-East Haven, author of the bill, said many people who've been sexually victimized are often reluctant to come forward for years for a variety of reasons.
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