NEW JERSEY
The Star-Ledger

By Star-Ledger Editorial Board

For some victims of childhood sexual abuse, it may take years before they can speak about the crime. When they finally do, they shouldn’t hear “Sorry, too late.”

That’s what the Catholic Church wants to say to them. That it’s unfair that institutions like theirs must defend themselves against accusations that sometimes are decades old.

Across the country, the New York Times reported last week, the church is lobbying for strict time limits on victims to sue their attackers and those who protected them. For victims of long-ago sexual abuse, lawsuits are often their only path to justice.

In New York and elsewhere, the church helped stop legislation that opened “windows” for victims to sue for past abuse.

The church tried in New Jersey, too.