Denver, Colo., Jan 31, 2006 / 22:00 pm
Yesterday, all three of Colorado’s Catholic Bishops blasted proposed state legislation which would lift the statutes of limitation on sexual abuse cases. Because of state sovereignty laws, they pointed out that this would unequally punish the Catholic Church while public school teachers and coaches accused of abuse would be all but exempt.
A joint statement was released yesterday by Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput, Colorado Springs Bishop Michael Sheridan, and Pueblo Bishop Arthur Tafoya.
Recently, a number of Colorado State Representatives, led largely by State Senator Joan Fitz-Gerald offered related bills to the Colorado General Assembly which seek to eliminate or modify statutes of limitation allowing sexual abuse victims to wait up to 40 years before filing suits against Catholic and other private institutions in the state.
In their statement, the bishops explained that they agree “that the sexual abuse of a minor is a serious crime and a grave sin” and conceded that “The proposed pieces of legislation, whatever their final form, and whether they’re pulled from consideration or move forward, have sparked an important discussion.”