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	Women Forced to Drop Church Abuse Suit By Catharyn Campbell WSMV August 6, 2008 http://www.wsmv.com/news/17102937/detail.html [with video] Lawsuit Filed Against Christian Gospel Temple Church NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A group of women stood in the heat on Tuesday to make the public aware of the sexual abuse they said they suffered at church. Video: Laws Prompt Alleged Victims To Drop Church Lawsuit The women said they were preyed upon at church, which is the one place they believed they were safe. "Because they went unreported to authorities and the congregation, it allowed these men to have complete access to children," Cheryl Morrell. In May, the women filed complaints against Christian Gospel Temple Church claiming that church leaders knew that they had been abused by other members. The women said that even though others knew, no one did anything about it. Because of a statute of limiations stipulation, the women were forced to drop the lawsuit. "Abuse could have been stopped it could have been prevented and they chose to not do that," Morrell said. The lawsuits were filed in a California court, which is where the women said the abuse happened. The women said the church had a cult-like following and that in the early 1990s, church leaders decided to move from Chino, Calif., to Crossplains, Tenn. They said 400 members followed them, including their families. "The laws there are you have up until you are 26 years of age to sue or prosecute. I'm 37 years old," Morrell said. Because of the statute of limitations -- the women are all older than 26 -- their attorney advised them to drop the complaints. "When you are abused, your pain doesn't stop when your statute of limitation runs out," said Jennifer Meier-Bieta. There are limitations on similar cases in Tennessee. The women plan to contact state legislators because they want that to change. "It seems more like the laws are for the predators and protect the predators than the victims," Meier-Bieta said. While they won’t have their day in court, the women said they hope that by sharing their story, they can help someone else. "I don't want our cases being dismissed to discourage anyone from coming forward, because I would do this all over knowing the outcome," Meier-Bieta said. A fourth woman filed a similar complaint against Christian Gospel Temple Church. She is under 26 years old, so her case is moving forward. Channel 4's Catharyn Campbell tried to contact the church’s pastor, but no one returned her call. There are limitations on similar cases in Tennessee. According to the district attorney's office, the law is complicated and varies in from case to case, but generally, a child who was a victim of sexual abuse has until they are 36 years old to pursue criminal charges against an accused abuser.
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