Lifting of statute of limitations on child sex abuse welcome

Guam Daily Post
September 13, 2016

http://www.postguam.com/forum/editorial/lifting-of-statute-of-limitations-on-child-sex-abuse-welcome/article_433753b6-78a7-11e6-8bfc-e75afc1f8d7a.html

We commend the members of the Guam Legislature for the unanimous passage of Bill 326 and we urge Gov. Calvo to sign it into law. Once enacted, the bill will eliminate the statute of limitations for civil cases involving child sex abuse. Child molestation is a particularly abhorrent crime with traumatic, long-term emotional effects. Children are often not able to understand what happened to them or why it happened, and are unable to report the attack.

In addition to the harm caused by the physical attack itself, the attacker is often someone known and trusted by the victim which makes the abuse even more traumatic and difficult to report.

The bill appears to have been prompted by recent accusations of sexual abuse leveled against Archbishop Anthony Apuron and other clergy. The accusations involve acts that are alleged to have occurred as long ago as 40 years, and so are well outside the current statute of limitations. Apuron has not been convicted of any crime, but the multiple accusations are of reprehensible acts and the victims should be able to make their accusations in a court of law. Similarly, the accused should have the opportunity to face and respond to those accusing him.

In addition to being grossly immoral, child sex abuse is a grave violation of the law. That the accused are members of the clergy should not be relevant to the legal process. Sex abuse is an offense against the community, and justice should be in the purview of the same legal system that has jurisdiction over any criminal activity in the community.

The sexual abuse of children by clergy seemingly throughout the Church has been one of the great scandals of the Catholic Church. The revelations of not only the abuse itself, but of the cover-ups and facilitation by those in the upper levels of church hierarchy have been shocking and disgraceful. The abuse came to light and was addressed only after it was prosecuted by secular authorities. As an institution, the Church has been shamefully slow to address the abuse and take steps to stamp it out.

Child sexual abuse certainly occurs outside of the Church – in families, schools, neighborhoods and other places where children are present and vulnerable. The provisions of the bill – the extension of the time limit for bringing court action against perpetrators of abuse – are appropriate for these cases.

The Guam Legislature has an obligation to do what it can to ensure that children in Guam are protected from sexual predators. The passage of Bill 326 and the ability to bring civil action against those who have stolen the innocence of and otherwise victimized children so grievously is a welcome step in that direction.