NEW YORK
Capital New York
ALBANY—As discussion swirls about an education tax credit that will benefit private and parochial schools, the Assembly is advancing a bill—long opposed by the state’s Roman Catholic bishops—that makes it easier to sue for childhood sexual abuse.
The bill, sponsored by Assemblywoman Margaret Markey, a Queens Democrat, would create a one-year window during which people sexually abused before their 18th birthday could bring suit against their alleged abusers—including private institutions like summer camps and church organizations. The window does not apply to public school institutions. The state’s Catholic Conference opposes the bill, which could open the church to a flurry of lawsuits and drain its coffers for legal defense, settlements or awards.
A spokesman for the Catholic Conference, Dennis Poust, questioned why the bill suddenly re-emerged during the final week of the legislative session. He said it seemed to be retaliation for an aggressive lobbying campaign on behalf of the tax credit, which has sent over a dozen mailers into the districts of some Democratic Assembly members.
“This is a bill that has not moved in the Assembly in years, due to the fact that it selectively targets private institutions while giving publics a pass,” Poust said. “The timing, given our strong advocacy in favor of the education tax credit and the calling out of Assembly majority members, certainly gives the impression of political payback, which is really quite chilling.”
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