Influential Kentucky Lawmaker Reveals He Was Sexually Abused As Child

By Kenny Colston
WKU
June 8, 2012

http://wkyufm.org/post/influential-kentucky-lawmaker-reveals-he-was-sexually-abused-child

One of Kentucky's leading voices against child abuse is speaking out about abuse he suffered as a child. State Rep. Tom Burch is the chairman of the House Health and Welfare committee. Burch wrote a letter to the Lexington Herald-Leader that mentioned that he was sexually abused by a priest as a middle schooler and was also physically abused by his father. Burch declined to give the priest's name or mention the church where the abuse occurred, saying that doing so wouldn't help anything.

Burch also says he told church leaders privately about the sexual abuse at the time. As an adult, Burch sought counseling, which the Catholic church paid for.

Burch has sponsored and supported several child abuse laws in the General Assembly.

In a statement in response to the story, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests praised Burch for coming forward.