SNAP Urges Lawmakers to Reject Sb 130

SNAP
February 17, 2014

http://www.snapnetwork.org/sd_snap_urges_lawmakers_to_reject_sb_130

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314-566-9790 cell, SNAPclohessy@aol.com)

A South Dakota legislative panel will vote tomorrow on a measure that moves the state backwards and endangers kids.

[Indian Country Today Media Network]

South Dakota Senate Bill 130 will effectively reinstate the statute of limitations to 1960s levels and deny victims their chance to expose child molesters in court.

Hundreds of Native Americans, mostly from the Lakota and Dakota tribes, have come forward with lawsuits against the Catholic Church hierarchy. They report that they were violently sexually assaulted while living in Catholic boarding schools in the 1960s.

We urge lawmakers to block this bill. Being heard in a court of law and seeing justice served is an extremely important step in the healing process, not to mention important for holding those responsible accountable and deterring cover ups in the future. We urge SD legislators reject this archaic, predator-friendly bill.