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	State Assembly May Vote on Sex Abuse Bill By William Murphy Newsday June 15, 2009 http://www.newsday.com/news/local/politics/ny-licath1612881449jun15,0,2385853.story A bill allowing lawsuits by people who say they were sexually abused as children could be voted on today in the state Assembly, although even if it passes its fate in the Senate is uncertain amid the chaotic leadership battle there. Supporters and opponents Monday declined to predict the bill's fate - even as some lobbied to bolster their positions. New York's Catholic bishops oppose the bill and have urged parishioners to help defeat it. Assemb. Margaret Markey (D- Maspeth), the bill's sponsor, recently amended it to allow people to sue public as well as private institutions. The bill would drop the statute of limitations for one year, allowing those age 53 or younger who missed past legal deadlines to sue. Over the past two weekends, Catholics in the Diocese of Rockville Centre heard a written statement at Mass from Bishop William Murphy saying the bill could be "financially devastating," and would divert resources from pursuing the church's mission. Brooklyn and Queens Catholics heard a similar message from Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio. "Opening a window for the bringing of time barred abuse claims would have a severe negative impact on charitable ministries within the Dioceses, diverting resources from pursuing the Church's mission to the defense of litigation," according to Murphy's statement. Diocesan spokesman Sean Dolan said Monday: "It gets more and more important for parishioners to understand what's at stake here." Markey, meanwhile, in an e-mail to supporters, chastised the church for putting "a higher priority on their assets than it does on children, ignoring their own responsibility for enabling sexual abuse." Bill Bennison of Port Jefferson, a director of the New York Coalition to Protect Children, said, "We've been lobbying, generating support for the bill."
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