Fighting for Children and Advocates Call for Boycott, protest of Cardinal Dolan’s event

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Protect NY Kids

Contact Melanie Blow melaniehdblow@gmail.com

Fighting for Children and Advocates Call for Boycott, protest of Cardinal Dolan’s rededication of Coleman High School chapel

On Monday Oct. 3 at 10 AM members of the political action committee Fighting for Children, survivors of child sexual abuse, and advocates will protest Cardinal Dolan’s rededication of the chapel at the John A Coleman high school, and are urging elected officials to boycott the rededication, on account of Cardinal Dolan’s opposition to eliminating the Statute of Limitations for child sexual abuse and his efforts to keep survivors of clergy sex abuse from receiving fair compensation.

“Cardinal Dolan hid church funds in Wisconsin as Bishop and was ordered by the highest court in Wisconsin to release the funds to victims of sexual abuse within the diocese. Cardinal Dolan has led the opposition to the Omnibus Child Victims Act in NY and has refused to meet with victims. The Catholic Church spent over 2 million dollars to defeat the CVA.” said Gary Greenberg, founder of Fighting for Children, a PAC that supports candidates who pledge to support the Omnibus Child Victims Act, a bill that will eliminate New York’s Statute of Limitations for child sexual abuse and make it easier for victims to sue their abusers or institutions that facilitated their abuse.

“The Catholic Church is the only major organization fighting against the passage of the Omnibus Child Victims Act, but they put up a massive fight. Statutes of Limitations for child sexual abuse ensure most victims of child sexual abuse cannot access justice, and that ensures 90% of sex offenders stay on the street. The church argues ‘this legislation will bankrupt churches’, which is both untrue, and essentially boils down to ‘we don’t want to be held accountable for our actions’, which is not a good argument.” says Melanie Blow, COO of the Stop Abuse Campaign.

“One fifth of New York’s children will be sexually abused by the time they turn 18, and 90% of the people who abuse them never see a day behind bars. The Omnibus Child Victims Act will fix that by ensuring victims have access to justice, which protects children. We urge people who care about children to boycott this event and educate themselves about child sexual abuse and the role the Cardinal Dolan is playing in New York to keep sex offenders on the streets” says Andrew Willis, CEO and co-founder of the Stop Abuse Campaign.

“We must hold those who abuse children accountable regardless of their rank, their affiliation, or how long ago the crime was committed. Passing the Omnibus Child Victims Act now will make New York State a state that protects its children, not predators.” said Ali Boak, senate candidate for the 40th district.

The protest will be in Kingston NY (thruway exit 19) about five minutes from the exit. Stay tuned for more details.

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