Maryland Catholic Church supports partial lifting of statute of limitations in sex abuse civil cases
BALTIMORE - The Maryland Catholic Conference will support state legislation that could potentially eliminate the statute of limitations civil lawsuits involving future cases of child sex abuse.
"The Catholic Church in Maryland will support legislation that may be introduced during the 2023 Maryland General Assembly session that prospectively eliminates the statute of limitation in civil lawsuits involving cases of child sexual abuse," the MCC said.
"I think this is a public relations move," Mike McDonnell, who represents fellow Catholic Church abuse survivors said Tuesday.
McDonnell takes issue with MCC's opposition to provisions that would allow survivors with time-barred claims to file lawsuits.
Currently, plaintiffs have until their 38th birthday to bring civil lawsuits in child sex abuse cases.
McDonnell said the average age for victims to come forward is 52.
"It is not about any kind of damage. It's about closure and validation for victims," McDonnell said. "When these suits are filed, the burden of proof is on the plaintiff."
In their statement, MCC cites an existing federal law, S.3103, that would have a similar impact to the legislation they expect to be proposed next year. Federal law allows individuals an unlimited amount of time to file a civil lawsuit in cases of child sexual abuse.
"The dioceses in Maryland have long focused on prevention of abuse and on responding to those who have been harmed, whenever that harm occurred. That commitment will continue," Susan Gibbs, a spokesperson for the MCC, said.
Gibbs pointed to resources available on the MCC's website.
The back-and-forth comes amid a legal battle over whether to publicly release a 456-page Attorney General report that details the abuse of nearly 600 children spanning 80 years and naming more than 150 clergies in Baltimore.
The Archdiocese of Baltimore publicly said it supports the release of that report, but it funded an effort to seal the legal proceedings which a judge did earlier this month.
"Our sincere hope is that this process will provide a measure of closure and a measure of healing for victim-survivors," Archbishop William Lori said.
In a video released this month, Archbishop Lori said the church will pay legal fees for some named in the report who are not accused of abuse.
"The church as a whole does not want this to get out," McDonnell said.
