BishopAccountability.org
	Alleged Church Victims Still Looking for Justice By Gita Pullapilly WZZM [Grand Rapids MI] February 21, 2005 GRAND RAPIDS - Many Catholics who say they were abused by local priests are still looking for justice years later. But prosecutors say the law doesn´t allow it because they waited too long. A report released last week shows four new allegations of sexual abuse in the Grand Rapids Catholic Diocese. The incidents allegedly happened more than 20 years ago. In 2002, Marc Bullerman came forward publically claiming he was sexually abused by a Grand Rapids priest over 20 years ago. "He would put his hand on my leg and bring it up and try to go underneath the pants and stuff like that and I´d try to move," said Bullerman. He met his alleged abuser in 1981 when he was 15. "When this first happened I went to the diocese, I told him what this man did and they said ok they´ll take care of it. It was hush hush, come to find out they just shoved him off to another place," he said. It was after Marc reported the incident again, 21 years later, when the diocese removed the priest from the church. "We have substantiated that case and therefore the decision was made to permanently remove him," said Bishop Robert Rose in May of 2002. But by then, it was too late to press criminal charges because the statute of limitations ran out. In the past three years, 17 other alleged victims have come forward. But according to Helen Brinkman, an assistant Kent County prosecutor, no priest in the Grand Rapids Diocese has ever been charged with a sex offense. Brinkman says the statute of limitations should not apply to minors who´ve been sexually abused. "The law should be when the victim feels comfortable enough to come forward that it ought to be prosecutable," said Brinkman. And she says without a criminal conviction, these priests can´t be put on a sex offender registry list. "Pedophiles are sexually attracted to children. How long can you keep someone in the situation where they trust them all the time," said Brinkman. As for Marc, he hopes more victims will come forward before time runs out again. "They should pay for what they did." The Grand Rapids Diocese released this statement about the alleged abuse and the law. "We regret all the abuse that occurred and encourage any victims to come forward. We want what will best facilitate healing for a victim."
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