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	Ron Johnson Wanted to Limit Liability of Catholic Church; Opposed Child Victims Act By Barry Orton The Wisconsin June 8, 2010 http://www.waxingamerica.com/2010/06/ron-johnson-wanted-to-limit-liability-of-catholic-church-opposed-child-victims-act.html So Republican Senatorial hopeful Ron Johnson has a bit of a political past after all. Last January, at the suggestion of a Green Bay Catholic official, Johnson testified against the Child Victims Act before the Wisconsin Senate Judiciary Committee. Johnson, a Lutheran who served on the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay's finance council, feared that: "This bill could actually have the perverse effect of leading to additional victims of sexual abuse, if individuals, recognizing that their organizations are at risk, become less likely to report suspected abuse." Dan Bice broke the story today in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Peter Isely, the Midwest director for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said the Catholic Church has been more likely to cover things up if it is not faced with court action. "He's just wrong," said Isely, who was not aware that Johnson had testified. ...The proposal would have eliminated the statute of limitations for future victims of child sex abuse and opened a three-year window for past victims. It was opposed by the insurance industry and church organizations, including the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, which argued the bill could bankrupt it. The measure had the support of several police organizations, social workers and Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm. The Child Victims Act bill did not pass. Ron Johnson should ask Rep. Matt Flynn (D - 4th District) how taking the Catholic Church's side on this issue worked out for him politically.
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