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	Senate Candidate Johnson Defends Position on Child Sex Crimes By Patty Murray Fox 21 October 1, 2010 http://www.fox21online.com/news/senate-candidate-johnson-defends-position-child-sex-crimes MADISON (WPR) U.S. Senate candidate Ron Johnson says he supports "severe and swift" criminal punishment for people convicted of sex crimes against children. The statement came in response to a victims’ rights group that questions Johnson's involvement with the Green Bay Catholic Diocese. Ron Johnson stands beside his January testimony before a legislative committee on the Child Victims Act, which would remove the statute of limitations for victims of childhood abuse. Johnson says he opposed the Child Victims Act because it could have financially crippled groups like the Scouts or Boys and Girls Club. Johnson's testimony is available on youtube. During the testimony, he said, “this bill could actually have the perverse effect of leading to additional victims of sexual abuse if individuals recognize that organizations are at risk of becoming less likely to report sexual abuse." Johnson--a Lutheran--served on the Green Bay Catholic Diocese' Financial Committee, a post he has since resigned. But his argument falls flat with members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests--or SNAP. The group's Midwest Director is Peter Isley. He wrote a letter to Johnson asking him to urge the Diocese to release the names of 51 Green Bay area priests and monks suspected of abusing children for decades. Isley says he's asking because of a recently filed motion seeking that information. He says “it isn't an attack letter at all. It is a plea for help on behalf of victims and families. We think he's in a unique position. He's put himself out there on this issue already. And so now we're asking him to put himself out there on this issue on a way we can all agree to." Johnson has not yet specifically responded to SNAP's letter.
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