Cardinal Sean O'Malley's Backing Sought on Bills

By Travis Andersen
The Boston Globe
December 9, 2013

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/12/09/advocates-urge-malley-back-statute-limitations-reform-for-abuse-victims/DrPIpXrGQwu9VnNoDTfkUM/story.html



Child welfare advocates are calling on the head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston to back legislation that would extend the statute of limitations in Massachusetts on cases brought by victims of childhood sexual abuse.

The open letter to Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley came days after he announced a major effort by Pope Francis to explore ways the church can protect children from abuse and to care for victims. The new Vatican commission marks the Catholic Church’s first comprehensive effort to address a scandal that exploded in 2002 in Boston and become a worldwide crisis.

The bills in Massachusetts are the latest efforts by advocates to get the state Legislature to allow more time for victims of childhood sexual abuse to pursue their alleged abusers in state court. One proposal would allow abuse victims to file a lawsuit in civil court up to the age of 55. Current law generally caps the filing age at 21. A separate bill would open a one-year window for those older than 55 to file claims. In criminal cases, accusers have until age 43 to file charges. The civil and criminal rules apply to all abuse cases and are not limited to church-related incidents.

A spokesman Sunday declined to disclose the archdiocese’s position on the proposals. But when the Legislature