If you’ve been following the Child Victim’s Act bill work its way to the full NY State Assembly in Albany, you’ve those opposed to the legislation say many things about why the bill is bad. Some objections to the bill have no basis in fact: 1)the bill targets the Catholic Church, 2)the Catholic Church will have to close schools and hospitals, and 3)the bill is dredging up the past and the problem has been resolved.
First, the NY abuse legislation doesn’t target any one individual or institution. If you want proof read the bill. Secondly, in states where similar legislation has passed (California and Delaware) no such occurrence has happened. Finally, the sex abuse scandal has not ended because far too many predators have eluded justice thanks in part to restrictive and outdated statutes of limitations which protect the predator rather than children.
While most legislation is complicated, the Child Victim’s Act is simple. It’s designed to protect children and help those who’ve been abused in the past come to grips with the injustice. If predators and the institutions that protected them are not forced to change, children will continue to be hurt.
In the upcoming weeks prior to a vote on the measure, we are going to hear apocalyptic tales of how this bill hurts the Catholic Church. Just remember whom it’s designed to help: our children.