Catholic Church Is Primary Obstacle, by Opinion Staff, Palm Beach Post, April 12, 2010

Catholic Church Is Primary Obstacle

By Opinion Staff
Palm Beach Post
April 12, 2010

http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/opinionzone/2010/04/12/catholic-church-is-primary-obstacle/

For six years, Royal Palm Beach lawyer Michael Dolce has pushed the Legislature to eradicate an obstacle for adults who suffered sexual abuse as children, as he did.

Florida law says those abused between ages 12 and 16 cannot pursue criminal charges after age 21 and civil suits after age 26. For most, however, the awakening to what happened occurs much later. Sorry, Florida law says, you may remember the pain now, but you can't do anything about it. And your abuser remains free.

Michael Dolce

This year, Mr. Dolce's bills — Senate Bill 870, sponsored by Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, and House Bill 525, sponsored by Rep. Chris Dorworth, R-Lake Mary – have traction. That's probably due to the reawakened abuse scandal confronting the Catholic Church.

For six years, opposition to Mr. Dolce's proposal has been led by the Catholic Church. That voice of moral authority, however, is willing to accept a lifting of the statute of limitations on the actions of an individual, just not on the actions of an institution, like the Catholic Church, that shields the individual.

In fact, the church should have nothing to worry about because the laws would not apply retroactively and the church claims that it stopped its immoral practice of protecting child abusers.

The bill awaits a vote in the House and is one committee away from reaching the Senate floor. We think the Legislature should pass these bills. What do you think?