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  SNAP Urges Sex Abuse Bill Passage

By Elizabeth Braun, Tom Murray
TMJ4
April 14, 2010

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/90803549.html

[with video]

There's been a lot of controversy about a bill removing the statute of limitations on some sex abuse cases. Sex abuse victims say it would help them. But churches across Wisconsin say it's anti-religion.

Members of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests stood in front of the state capitol building and shared their pain.

Steven Geier was one of the deaf boys supposedly abused by Father Lawrence Murphy at a school for the deaf in St. Francis.

"I tried to ask for help but they wouldn't believe me. 'You're doing wrong,' they would tell them. 'You're not supposed to do that.' Try to forget about it," says Geier.

SNAP members are calling for lawmakers to take action on a bill that would let sex abuse victims sue their abusers without any statute of limitations.

At a hearing earlier this year, Archbishop Jerome Listecki and representatives from the 13 biggest Protestant churches in Wisconsin testified against the legislation.

Under the bill, there would be limits on how much public schools could be forced to pay in a lawsuit. There would be no such limit for churches.

Senator Lena Taylor wonders if there's enough support for the bill.

"We will continue to try to talk to people and get us there. I will tell you that getting us there has not been the easiest process," says Taylor.

Even if the Senate takes action, there are still questions about what the assembly would do. That raises even more concerns about the future of the bill.

 
 

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