Letter to the editor, published in The News Journal, May 14, 2007
Stop protecting predators with the passage of S.B. 29
The recent full page ad condemning S.B. 29's attempt to protect
children from sexual abuse says a lot. In fact it obscures the simple truth:
Children have not been protected from sexual abuse because of the
two-year statute of limitations.
The ad makes it seem that most sexual abuse is done by Catholic
priests. In fact, priests account for single digit percentages of abuse. Most
abuse is actually done by family members.
News reports about dioceses filing for bankruptcy makes it appear that
churches, hospitals and schools will have to be closed. Filing for
bankruptcy is simply a legal strategy to delay court proceedings.
The Catholic Church is well insured and the church owns enormous
amounts of commercial real estate.
So let's not miss the point: pass S.B. 29 to protect the children and
not the predators.
William J. Heaney, Wilmington