Albany, N.Y., May 28, 2021 / 13:15 pm (CNA).
Those who were sexually abused as adults would be given a one-year window in which to sue perpetrators and institutions, even if the statute of limitations has expired, under a bill being considered in New York.
The New York State Catholic Conference told CNA they remain neutral on the bill.
The Adult Survivors Act would allow a one year window for adults victims to bring forward suits in cases which have passed the statute of limitations. Some sex crimes in the state have a five-year statute of limitations.
The bill is similar to the Child Victims Act, a state law passed in 2019 that created a one-year extension of the statute of limitations for old sex abuse cases. Originally scheduled to close in August 2020, the one-year period was extended due to the coronavirus pandemic and will close Aug. 14.
The New York legislative session will end June 10.
The New York State Catholic Conference originally opposed the Child Victims Act.
“The New York State Catholic Conference removed opposition to the Child Victims Act in 2019, shortly before passage, when the sponsors amended it at our urging to include survivors of abuse in public institutions,” Interim Executive Director of the New York State Catholic Conference, Dennis Poust, told CNA.
Poust said that although the conference remains neutral on the Adult Survivors Act, they were pleased to see that the bill’s sponsors retained language that they successfully fought for in the Child Victims Act which provides equal treatment for survivors whose abuse occurred at the hands of public officials or those working in public institutions.
More than 2,800 suits have been filed against Catholic institutions under the Child Victims Act.
Four of the state’s dioceses— Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo, and Rockville Centre — have declared bankruptcy amid the lawsuits brought under the Child Victims Act.
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I like to know why I read this in the news and the diocese claims to be settling there claims. I have been. Upfront honest and Also investigated since the fall of. 2020
By the diocese and a special investigator that I had to tell every single detail too. And was going completely credible by every one in June 2021. And I can say the diocese did everything by the book. And I did get. A zoom meeting with the bishop and he did sincerely apologize and it helped me very much But as I have told the bishop office and my lawyer that I am now doing my best to recover and im in a pretty tough spot. As I cannot hold a job. And im in quite al a lot of pain. Pinched nerves arthritis in my neck that’s so bad some times i can’t do much. And i am tryin to also heal from the clergy abuse that I kept secret 40 yrs. So All that and now even behind on rent I could be homeless at my age. Again and I can’t get any help from the government there is no help for my situation age and pains recovering from all that. And The answers I’m getting are it may take maybe years before anything or any answers to the civil suit I filled last yr. Will be settled if there is any thing done at all to help me. To me some one is not telling the truth my lawyer says since last august there has not been one move forward what so ever.and I read the article that says the diocese is continuing to help the past survivors. I must be reading that wrong The most upsetting thing is I already have been investigated by the diocese and they had a board meeting and I was found credible and I have all the texts and emails. Why do I have to go live on the streets again. And maybe not live through that this time. I’m upset and not going to go quietly with out trying to let people know. That nothing Is moving forward with my suit. And I was investigated what about the other hundreds of people in the
Same spot. That are starting as of last august that are hurting. Isn’t there a time period that the church must respond and try to help us or there lawyers are that smart they can keep pushing this off as long as they want. Idk if that’s the case I guess I will never get help and they all hope I just die off and that’s it. I do not to let my brain work that way. Because as I sat the bishop was very kind and respectful to me but no one has offered me and kind of financial help or I definitely would have not filled a suit that I thought Atleast there was a fund set up to help us survivors. Get a chance to recover and not on a park bench. I don’t know what else to do or say. But if they diocese Is truly trying to hell us. They sure know how to get to my lawyer because I’m not aloud to talk to there lawyers. Or I would go Right down to there office and put them on the spot.
Thank you for listening and if there is anything I can do. Or make any statements about any of this. I don’t have much more to lose now. I think being homeless again is as far down i can go. Or death
I have tried to get help from every single government and state agencies. It seems As now there isn’t a type of funding for this sexual abuse yet in the data base. Especially after filling last year. Not one thing has been done to help the survivor as these law suits may drag on for years for some of us. Thank you for listening and I posted my fund page as it gives much more of my story.
https://gofund.me/dd2ca1c2
518-368-2856. Cell I will answer any questions i can If necessary