By John Dela Rosa
Guam News Watch
July 22, 2010
http://guamnewswatch.com/201007222587/Local-News/Standing-for-the-Rights-of-Abused-Children.html
GUAM - He called it perfect timing.
Although no one showed up to testify at the public hearing for Bill Number 334, that requires members of the clergy to report allegations of child abuse, Vice Speaker Benjamin J. Cruz found an unlikely ally in the Roman Catholic Church.
Just days after the public hearing, the Vatican released its revised procedures on how priests must deal with child abuse allegations they hear.
Cruz told Guam News Watch, "As a family court judge, I know that the priests believed that they were precluded from reporting to CPS and the police anything that they heard from any of the parishioners. Your timing's perfect. Just this morning the Vatican released its new procedures for dealing with this. That the priests are responsible for complying with civil statute in their jurisdiction."
However, some places like Guam do not have the laws in place for these priests to comply. That is why he introduced Bill Number 334.
"They didn't make it a requirement throughout because there are some jurisdictions like Guam still that does not have that requirement or is not specific. What I'm trying to do is correct it with my bill to make sure that the civil law says you must report." Cruz added. "And under the new direction by the Vatican they should report they should comply with the local statute. So I'm just trying to make it come in line."
The Vice Speaker also received strong backing for his bill from Joelle Casteix of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP). A statement released by Casteix reads in part, "We have learned by experience that the best way to keep kids safe right now is for lawmakers to extend or eliminate criminal and civil statutes of limitation for child sexual abuse such as Senator Cruz's Bill 334."
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