Churches Off the Hook for Pedophilia; What’s Next for Survivors?
For now, the Catholic Church in South Dakotaalong with schools, religious orders and other churches and institutionsappears to be off the hook for sexual abuse that Native Americans say they suffered while attending Church-run boarding schools during the 1960s, 70s and 80s. On February 18, the state legislatures Senate Judiciary Committee listened to statements for and against Senate Bill 130, which was intended to give their day in court to Native victims whod had their lawsuits against the Church terminated after legislative action in 2010.
The 45-minute hearing pitted the survivors, all non-lawyers, against Catholic and Lutheran church attorneys. The committee chairman then requested that the victims produce legal documents they hadnt been forewarned theyd need to show. Finally, the members voted 5-2 to kill the measure, while noting that they opposed sexual abuse of children and felt for the victims.
One of the bills sponsors, Representative Troy Heinert, Rosebud Sioux, said he will talk to the survivors who came forward and to South Dakotas House Judiciary Committee to see what options lie ahead. I truly believe the survivors still have support. Weve got to keep this issue moving, because a lot of people havent received justice.
This is the second time the South Dakota legislature failed to remedy a 2010 bill that let institutions off the hook for abuse once the victim had turned 40; the first attempt was in 2012. The 2010 law, written by a Catholic Church lawyer, was passed after scores of middle-aged and elderly Native Americans sued the Church and individual perpetrators under the childhood-sexual-abuse statute of limitations in existence at the time.
So many plaintiffs had come forward by 2010, the legislature was in panic mode, said Heinert. It passed a law that doesnt allow for nuances among the cases.
Full Article http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/02/20/churches-hook-pedophilia-whats-next-survivors-153654
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This is disgusting, they are allowed by the courts to cover up their crimes. How does this make the judicial system look. There is no Justice in this ruling.
This is South Dakota Larry, you can't expect anything from them, that would remedy the situation.
I can and do expect the judicial system to do their job fairly. This is crap and nothing judicial about it.
Larry, SD is one of the most racist states in the union regarding Indians. Just look at their history, past and present.
I agree that the judicial system should do their job fairly. Unfortunetly this doesn't happen in SD regarding Indians.