Catholic Church Is Opposing California Bill to Create Another Limitations Window For Child Sex Abuse Suits

AP reported yesterday that in California the Catholic Church is actively opposing state Senate Bill 131 which would which would create a one-year window for filing of childhood sexual abuse cases that are currently barred by the state's statute of limitations.  A similar one-year window was enacted in 2003. An Action Alert by the California Catholic Conference urges Californians to contact their State Assembly member to urge a "no" vote on the bill, arguing that: "The change in statute of limitations only applies to private or non-profit employers like the YMCA or the Church.  It does not apply to public schools, other public agencies or even to the perpetrator himself." AP says that the Catholic Conference has spent more than $70,000 so far to oppose the bill. The current statute of limitations has an absolute cutoff of age 26 for bringing child sex abuse claims.