MADISON (WI)
August 7, 2019
Associated Press
By Morgan Wolfe
Democratic lawmakers are introducing bills that would eliminate the statute of limitations on child sexual assault lawsuits and force clergy members to report allegations of child sexual assault they learn about during confidential conversations.
Under current Wisconsin law, children who are sexually assaulted have until age 35 to file a civil action. Sen. Lena Taylor and Reps. Melissa Sargent and Chris Taylor’s bill would remove the deadline.
Current law allows clergy members who learn about allegations of child sexual assault during confidential conversations to keep them secret. The Democrats’ second bill would eliminate that exception.
Laurie Asplund is an advocate for child sexual assault victims because she is one. Asplund was 14-years-old when her family’s Christian Youth Pastor began to “groom” her. Groom is a term used by child abusers as a predator will start to manipulate the child into trusting them.
By the time Asplund was graduating highschool, she was being forced into sexual acts with a man her family had no idea was a predator.
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