A bill currently working it’s way through the Connecticut Legislature would remove the statute of limitations on child sex abuse cases. On the surface that sounds like a reasonable thing to do; until, that is, you consider the very possible effect of that legislation if it is passed.
Currently, under Connecticut law, a person who had suffered sexual abuse at the hands of an adult can file a lawsuit against the person or institution responsible for that abuse until his/her 48th birthday. If the current limitation of “30 years past the person’s 18th birthday” is removed, anyone at any age can claim he/she was abused at any time in the past and file a lawsuit asking for compensation.
The quandary is, as this CNN Justice article points out: Connecticut bishops fight sex abuse bill: “the bill would allow claims that are 70 years or older, in which key individuals are deceased, memories have been faded, and documents and other evidence have been lost.”
Even now, with the current Statute of Limitations, the situation is a virtual Disneyland for trial lawyers who will press for “a settlement”, even in cases where there is little or no evidence — and organizations and institutions, even if they are totally innocent of the charges, will most often pay those settlements rather than spend years in court and millions in lawyers fees defending themselves. If the Statute of Limitations was lifted, the number of law suits would no doubt multiply; and most of the new law suits would probably be filed by people who have no legitimate claim to compensation, people who just want to take advantage of an unfortunate situation.
Over the past weekend, the Connecticut Catholic Bishops posted a letter on their website and distributed it to every Catholic Church in the state. The letter makes their case that “The legislation would undermine the mission of the Catholic Church in Connecticut, threatening our parishes, our schools, and our Catholic Charities.” All Connecticut Catholics are being urged to contact their representatives and oppose this bill (H.B. 5473).
The Catholic church has, of course, the most to loose because they have made themselves the biggest target in the child-sex abuse arena by their inability to keep their house in order; but they are correct on this one.
In my opinion even that “30 years past the age of 18” is, at least in the majority of cases, far too permissive. At some point after any incident, reality tends to get skewed and many false memories and mental exaggerations will take the place of accurate memory. A 2007 Science Daily report suggests that while “children’s memory of long-ago events may be more accurate than previously thought” there is also a risk that “children’s memories have been contaminated by false information.” As years are added to the process, it will be even more unlikely that original memories are untainted.
Links:
CNN Justice: Connecticut bishops fight sex abuse bill
Connecticut Catholic Conference: Connecticut Bishop’s Statement on H.B. 5473
Science Daily: Children’s Memory Of Long-Ago Events May Be More Accurate Than Previously Thought
17 users commented in " Connecticut Sex Abuse Statute of Limitations "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackI just belive there should be no limitations on former sex abuse situations.But after going for those.Them make it that in the future they have an amount of time to come forward.But past situations should be allowed to come forward.Because it took me untill i was grown to tell,i was shame.It wasnt a church so.
There should be no payoffs untill after it has been proven in a court of law,an then civil suits should come forward. Im sorry if the church was hit bad,but its the way they handled the situation to begin with.An the church is held to a higher standard,because they are belivers.
Any man/woman who has molested anyone it should be brough out in the open,an not kept secret,an tried in a court of law,by believer of all christian faith. I am disgusted that this has happened in the C.Church,an even more disgusted if it was covered up.
But i believe as a beliver in the Father Son an Holy Gost(spirit .That they make the God head.An when a church makes man made rules of celibency then theres going to be problems with sexual crimes.No where in the word was it manditory to be a preist (preacher of Gods word)that they had to refrain from marrage to serve,an carry Gods word,an teachings.
An when erriction of a blessed woman,came into the C Church,an they pray to her to pray for them.When Jesus said he would pray that our faith wouldnt fail,in trying times.An no where does it say that the dead,can be prayed for,or prayed to.Except to the true living God head.No man comes to the father(God) except by Jesus christ the true living word who walked in the flesh,but was Holy,an dided,an is rison that we have a chance to repent,an live as Gods Sons,an Daughters.Untill we are taken home to remain with him for ever.
So where is Mary in the picture of the God head.She was a bless woman amoung the living,an decent woman.But she to was flesh,an becaome to believe in the Godly man she carried as a son.
SO When her Image is worshiped,an prayed to.iTS A FORM OF iDOL WORSHIP,BECAUSE SHE IS NOT PART OF THE GOD HEAD,SHE CANOT SAVE OR DESTROY.lET LIVE FOR EVER(BELIEVERS),OR CAST IN TO HELL UNBELIVEING SINNERS. THAT WAS THE START OF THE MOST SAUGHT AFTER CHURCH,AN ITS FALL,BEFORE MAN,AN GOD.HOW WOULD WE NOT,SEE JUDGEMENT ABOUT TO FALL,AN HAS FALL ON A FALSE BELIEF,AN TEACHING BY THOSE IN POWER FALSE TEACHINGS.IS WHAT IT IS.im sorry but i have read,an studied An no where does it lift MARY,AN ALLOW A IMAGE STATUE TO BE ERRICTED BEFORE MAN TO WORSHIP,AN PRAY TO.In Gods Holy word.Jesus is tto be lifted up,an he says he will draw all men/wemon unto him.Gods word says he will let man/woman believe a lie an be damned,an praying to Mary,an worshiping Mary, is a out,an out lie.
I tell you this not being ugly,but through much study,on religions,an true belivers,an what Gods Holy word says.An my strong faith,an believe in God the father the Son,an the Holy Spirit.
Remember it doesnt say God,the father,Mary ,an the Holy Ghost,it says God the father the Son,an the Holy spirit
Its says if Jesus name be lifted up,he will draw all people unto him.
It doesnt say if Mary be lifted up she will draw all people unto her.
She was belessed to be chosen for what she was to carry,an birth.
But no where was she to be worshiped.Thats for the God head.Father Son,an Holy Ghost.
I speak truth an life today,am not against any believer in Jesus Christ,but when something that doesnt line up with Gods word,that i have a problem with,an will warn all,as profits of old warned .
Now if they have waited untill the priest has passed before filing ,then the limitatin shoulnt stand.Because that priest can not defend his self.Unless they just filed when this was all brought to the light.Many youth,are shame,or afraid to come forward,in sex crimes against the perps.Because of what family may think,or their mate may think,or they still may attend that church ,an they will seem to be liers if stepping forward yrs later.But when others stepped out,then they may have been brave enough then to come out.Because others did..This happens whit the charges brough agains prist,an outside perps.It happens many never tell what happen to them.
Jan57,
That’s an interesting idea to not allow cash settlements in cases like these. I don’t know if it could ever happen but its an interesting idea. Additionally, the losing side of the lawsuit should be forced to pay all costs — that would certainly eliminate a lot of false accusations.
Thanks for your comments!
when you are a child and don’t know what’s going on it is a very scary position to be put in. I was scared,confused and immediately after it happened , ashamed. I thought it was my fault I let it happen. I thought I was the only one. I just knew if it got out my friends would tease me for the rest of my life. Then of course the confusion. Am I gay? I was unable to be in a monogamous relationship because I had to constantly prove that I liked girls. So every chance I Got to be with a women I was there. Not to mention the drinking and drud use to cover up the pain of being with another man with me not being gay. My children have suffered because If not for this happening I may have not had such a low self esteem and I may have become responsible and able to keep a job and not end up in prison over drugs. So if you think victims don’t deserve something then maybe you can pay for my kids collage and my mothers therapy and explain to all those women that I used why I did it. I am not bitter it just sucks that this had to happen. I wonder every day how I would of turned out if not for this incident. I wonder>
the losing side of the lawsuit should be forced to pay.She was belessed to be chosen for what she was to carry,an birth.
@xaviersdad That is such a sad story. Abuse happens all around us and if only more people would speak up about their experiences maybe it will encourage others who went through the same experience. It is not okay, we should have ZERO tolerance on any form of abuse.
@ Jan57 I totally agree with you there. The losing side of the lawsuit should pay for all legal cost that should definitely stop false accusations as well. But I really don’t think there is any amount of money that could help those victims forget their horrible experience. Shame on those people who are abusive.
Amen to that! Zero tolerance to any form of abuse. Personally abusers should be “hang” and not be let out in the society so that they can re-offend.
yes that is the right thing to do we must stop false accusations sometimes we made mistake and people get prisons because of false accusation.
I totally agree with you. Don’t judge a book buy it’s cover!
for me let the abuser be hang to death since they done so much trouble to the people. Also it will be a warning to those who tries and think of another crime on abuse to be afraid because of the punishment.
There needs to greater penalties for those involved in such horrible crimes.
It’s incredible that escorts can get away with this sort of thing in Sydney these days. Who’d have thought escorts would turn to spamming forums just to turn a few tricks?
Is this a joke? “a person who had suffered sexual abuse at the hands of an adult can file a lawsuit against the person or institution responsible for that abuse until his/her 48th birthday” Why wait that long? I just don’t understand this concept.
I agree. Ridiculous!
any form of sexual abuse is not aceeptable!
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