Church Fights Calif. Bill to Extend Time for Abuse Suits

Chronicle of Philanthropy
July 16, 2013

http://philanthropy.com/blogs/philanthropytoday/church-fights-calif-bill-to-extend-time-for-abuse-suits/71705

Catholic leaders in California are waging a battle to defeat state legislation aimed at giving some alleged victims of clergy sexual abuse additional time to file civil lawsuits against the church, according to the Los Angeles Times.

A church-linked group, the California Council of Nonprofit Organizations, has retained five lobbying firms and spent $75,000 fighting the measure. In a church newspaper last month, Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez urged parishioners to contact legislators about the bill, which he said “puts the social services and educational work of the Church at risk.”

California dioceses took no position on a 2002 law that loosened the statute of limitations on molestation claims and have since paid $1.2-billion in settlements. A key provision of the new bill would lift the statute for one year for some accusers who missed previous deadlines.

The bill is supported by advocacy groups for crime victims and child-abuse survivors, but critics contend it would unfairly open faith and youth organizations to decades-old charges that are difficult to fight in court. The California State Alliance of YMCAs and the California Association of Private School Organizations also oppose the measure.