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	Bill Proposed to Help Rape Victims By Jaclyn Cashman WWLP May 26, 2010 http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/local/bill-proposed-to-help-rape-victims [with video] SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - 22News is taking a closer look at the clergy abuse scandal that's rocked the Catholic church over the last decade. Many Catholics are furious that former Bishop Thomas Dupre never served jail time for child abuse. Now there's a push to change the laws to further protect children. Former Springfield Diocese Bishop Thomas Dupre is currently living in a retirement home for priests in the Washington area, but clergy abuse survivors wish he were in jail. Dupre was indicted on child rape charges but never prosecuted because of the statute of limitation laws. Current Bishop Timothy McDonnell said, "Anytime a child is hurt it is terrible and the after effects for people are long lasting and there is no question about that.” Advocates are trying to change the laws on the books, but acknowledge the tough road ahead. Bill Nash, a clergy abuse victim, said, "Whenever there are attempts to reform the statute of limitations the Catholic Church fights tooth and nail and extend the statute so that we can prosecute some of these guys." 22News tried to contact The Massachusetts Catholic Conference, the public policy office of the Catholic Church's dioceses in Massachusetts, but they never returned our phone calls. They have said in the past that they are against similar bills because the church is opposed to any legislation that crosses the lines of separation of church and state. A Holyoke Medical Center psychiatrist explains why it sometimes takes years for sexual abuse victims to remember or acknowledge what happened to them. Dr. Robert Gardiner said, "Where sex is concerned there's a lot of anxiety that is built into the sexual experience and whenever we are prone as people our memories are not so clear and our memories are not so present." While the laws are limited on the criminal side of things, Greenfield attorney John Stobiersky did find a way to still go after these alleged pedophiles civilly. John Stobiersky said, "There is a particular statute of limits for victims of sexual abuse and to boil it down it is three years after someone knew or should have known that the abuse caused them harm." Peter Caffrey is currently suing members of the Springfield Diocese for abuse and recalls for 22News when he first remembered what happened to him. Caffrey said, "Having a little argument with my family and then suddenly I found myself cowering in the corner and I started getting some memories back." Some victims don't want to come forward because they feel shame and because they feel the criminal laws aren't on their side, but one clergy abuse victim encourages it. Drew Nicastro said, "It is not your fault and there is nothing to be afraid of and there is so much pride once you come and realize. It is not me."
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