California Catholic Conference Leading the Fight Against Child Victims’ Act

Perhaps it’s because they are better funded than the YMCA, the Boy Scouts of America, or the Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons), but one thing is very clear-the fight to stop Governor Jerry Brown from signing into law the Child Victim’s Act has been led by the California Catholic Conference, the public relations and lobbying arm of the state’s Catholic bishops.

The Conference has chosen an odd strategy.  They complain that Senate Bill 131 now sitting on Governor Jerry Brown’s desk is discriminatory because it unfairly targets private institutions.  The Conference’s website calls the bill a “travesty of justice for sexual abuse victims”.  The tactic is not only disingenuous it’s insulting to the thousands of victims of childhood sexual abuse in California. 

Governor Jerry Brown has just a few days left to decide what he will do with the bill.  My colleague has already written about his options.  The sole aim of SB 131 is to protect children and hold accountable those who abuse children with the protection of institutions of trust.