More invective against a Connecticut bill

Tag: usa

By Susan Campbell

Just today, Catholic League president Bill Donohue sent a letter to Connecticut legislators railing against Voice of the Faithful and House Bill 5473, proposed Connecticut legislation that extends the civil statute of limitations on seeking redress after the sexual abuse, assault or exploitation of a minor.

The bill sets strict rules for people who want to file a lawsuit, but it is opposed by the Insurance Association of Connecticut, St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center employer of George Reardon, an endocrinologist accused of abusing and assaulting hundreds of children and the Archdiocese of Hartford.

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It is also opposed by Donohue, who -- not content to simply oppose the bill -- in his letter calls Voice of the Faithful "morally bankrupt," and asks that legislators "not be distracted by those who harbor an agenda of their own."

Is it an agenda to want closure for survivors of childhood sexual abuse? So be it. Is it an agenda to let the courts decide -- not the church -- whether these people have a case? So be that, too.

And what, precisely, would be the agenda of Mr. Donohue?

So the rhetoric heats up, and what gets lost is hundreds of victims of childhood sexual abuse stand to lose their chance for their day in court because of agendas such as that of the Catholic League and others.

And let's keep in mind that despite the attention on the Roman Catholic Church, not all the victims in question -- adults now -- were assaulted by Reardon, yet people like Mr. Donohue would deny those people, as well.

Opponents of House Bill 5473 are continuing their lobbying with legislators. Are supporters doing the same?

http://blogs.courant.com/susan_campbe...conne.html