Critical Moment For California Abuse Survivors

In spite of strong opposition from the California Catholic Conference, SB 131will be heading to the California state Senate for a vote this coming Friday.  SB 131 provides survivors of sexual abuse an opportunity to seek justice against the sexual perpetrator as well as the institution that protected the abuser.

SB 131 if signed into law will provide a one year revival window for any victim who was over the age of 26 in 2003 but had not made a causal connection between the sexual abuse and the cause of his or her injuries until after 2004.

California is the nation’s most populous state and the sexual abuse crisis, especially involving institutions like the Boy Scouts of America, the Catholic Church and the Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons), took its toll on the state and its residents.  In the coming weeks, this blog will examine the sexual abuse crisis as it unfolded in the Catholic Church in California as well as in the Boy Scouts and Mormon Church in California.  These histories will also help demonstrate how new legislation focused on helping survivors of sexual abuse, is critical at this stage in California.