A bill that would erase the statute of limitations on civil lawsuits against child sex abusers could drive Catholic dioceses in Wisconsin bankrupt, Milwaukee’s new archbishop told lawmakers Tuesday. Archbishop Jerome Listecki said the bill would open the church up to lawsuits from people still hurting from sexual abuse from priests and others who believe the church has deep coffers. That would drain resources from charitable causes and could drive dioceses under, he said.
"We can’t ignore the injustice of targeting the Catholic church," Listecki told the state Senate judiciary committee during a hearing.
Current Wisconsin law allows people to bring civil lawsuits against anyone who sexually abused them as a child until the victim turns 35.
The bill would wipe out that age limit. Anyone sexually abused after the measure took effect could bring a civil lawsuit whenever they chose. Anyone 35 or older the day the bill takes effect would have three years to file.
Supporters say child victims sometimes need years to deal with the trauma of a sexual assault and file a lawsuit. They also maintain the civil lawsuits would identify more potential sexual predators police could investigate.
Opponents argue the three-year retroactive window is unconstitutional and would create cases where the facts have become obscured over time.
They insist the bill is really about money.
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