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  Legislators Hold Hearing on Bill That Would Permit Civil Suits against Child Abusers

By Gil Halsted
Superior Telegram
January 13, 2010

http://www.superiortelegram.com/event/article/id/39476/group/News/

[with video]

MADISON – Victims of child sexual abuse turned out in force Tuesday at the state capitol to testify in favor of a bill that would allow them to bring civil suits against their abusers. It would change the statute of limitations that prevents adults over 35 years old from seeking damages from abusers if the abuse took place before they turned 20.

Only California and Delaware have passed similar laws.

Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki urged legislators to reject the bill, arguing that in Delaware, the law led to the bankruptcy of the state’s largest Catholic charities agency. He says the same could happen in Wisconsin. Listecki says it’s an “injustice” targeting the Catholic Church and a similar outcome could affect services, whether it’s for a person with disabilities in Superior, or a homeless family in Green Bay, which rely on help from Catholic Charities.

But victims of priest abuse at the hearing told a different story. Speaking through a sign language translator, Frank Fanara – who was abused as a deaf child at a Milwaukee Catholic boarding school – said he was abused in the middle of the night when he was asleep and didn’t realize how the abuse affected him for more than 47 years.

Opponents of the bill say it is unconstitutional but supporters say so far similar bills in Delaware and California have withstood constitutional challenges.

 
 

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