NEW ORLEANS (LA)
Catholic Vote [Madison, WI]
May 14, 2024
By McKenna Snow
Following a police investigation into the Archdiocese of New Orleans, the Louisiana Supreme Court has decided to rehear arguments in favor of a law that could reopen the window for victims of child sex abuse to file lawsuits against the Archdiocese.
“In a victory for child victims of sexual abuse – I’m pleased that the Louisiana Supreme Court granted our application for a rehearing,” Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill posted on her X account. “This was the right decision – as the bill passed unanimously through the State Legislature and should be the law here in Louisiana.”
“I’ll always defend victims of sexual abuse, and I look forward to the next steps at the Louisiana Supreme Court,” she added.
In March, the Court initially ruled that the law, which was passed in 2021 and amended in 2022, “conflicted with due process rights in the state constitution,” according to the Associated Press.
The law expanded the window for victims of sexual abuse to file a civil lawsuit, allowing them to do so until June 2027. Before the law’s expansion, abuse victims had until June 14, 2024, to file a civil lawsuit.
The Court decided on May 10 to rehear oral arguments in favor of the law.
“The rehearing decision follows last week’s revelation that Louisiana State Police carried out a sweeping search warrant in April at the Archdiocese of New Orleans, seeking records and communications between local church leaders and the Vatican about the church’s handling of clergy sexual abuse,” AP reported.
The National Catholic Register reported that the Archdiocese is working cooperatively with law enforcement on the investigation.
“The Archdiocese of New Orleans has been openly discussing the topic of sex abuse for over 20 years. In keeping with this, we also are committed to working with law enforcement in these endeavors,” an Archdiocese spokesman told the National Catholic Register in an emailed statement.
The date for the rehearing of oral arguments will be set for a later date in May.