NBC 29
January 27, 2011
http://www.nbc29.com/Global/story.asp?S=13922548
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| State legislators are considering the bill, but the Catholic Church says it goes too far. |
Virginia legislators are considering a bill that would give sexual abuse victims more time to file lawsuits against their abusers. But the Catholic Church says the proposal goes too far.
Victims and advocates say the changes would be a valuable tool for people who have suffered horrific abuse. The question for lawmakers is how long should those victims have to file a lawsuit.
Victims of sexual abuse at the hands of priests are urging state lawmakers to extend the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits from two years to 25.
"It will act as a deterrent for pedophiles and, most importantly, will help protect our children," stated Becky Ianni, a victim of abuse.
Victims and advocates are pushing the change, which they say would give survivors an additional tool to deal with the abuse.
"I ask that this legislature consider the plight of the victims that this bill is intended to protect and not the plight of the bill's opponents," stated Mark McAllister, a fellow abuse victim.
One of those opponents is the Catholic Church, which has lobbied lawmakers to scale the proposal back from 25 years to eight. The House approved that compromise, but advocates are pushing for a tougher stance in the Senate.
"The goal here is to keep it as close to 25 as we can," stated Camille Cooper with the National Association to Protect Children.
Legislators hope to get the threshold to 15 years.
"If the Senate agreed to 15 in their number, I think I could get our side to agree to 15, too," predicted 42nd District Delegate Dave Albo (R).
The Catholic Church says it would not support that long of a statute of limitations, saying it could lead to false accusations and malicious lawsuits. The lobbyist for the Catholic Church says that the church supports what he called "reasonable" expansions to the statute of limitations.
Lawmakers met Thursday to work out the Senate version of the bill.
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