In another sharp attack on what he believes is anti-Catholic legislation, Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput wrote that a “few select members” of the legislature have displayed “irrational hostility” toward the church.
Democrats responded that Chaput was spreading unfounded allegations, building up “irrational fear” and diverting attention from the aim of the bills.
In a column in today’s Denver Catholic Register, Chaput reiterates his opposition to bills that would loosen or do away with time limits for filing lawsuits involving sexual abuse from years ago.
Chaput expressed compassion for victims and pointed out the church has adopted policies to protect children. He believes the bills target churches and private institutions but not public schools, which are harder to sue under state law because of governmental immunity.
Chaput wrote in his column that a legislator “slandered the entire Catholic community” in comments to church staffers before apologizing.
Tim Dore, executive director of the Colorado Catholic Conference, declined to name the legislator but said “it wasn’t even that big of a deal. He later apologized, and we have the utmost respect for the legislator and have worked with him on other legislation.”
Chaput wrote that a teenage victim who testified for the church was repeatedly interrupted and ignored at a hearing and that a legislator tried to remove the teen and his father from the state Capitol.
Democrats said the teen’s father used abusive language against Rep. Rosemary Marshall, D-Denver, sponsor of House Bill 1088. She said she tried to approach the teen to thank him for testifying when his father became “angry and aggressive” about the bill passing a committee and, as a result, he was asked to leave.
Rep. Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, criticized church officials. “Instead of addressing the issue at hand, which is how to fairly compensate sex-abuse victims, they choose to engage in name-calling and try to build up an irrational fear of Catholic bashing.”
The Greek Orthodox Church in Denver and Faith Bible Chapel, an Arvada megachurch, also have written to legislators opposing the legislation.
The House amended another bill Tuesday dealing with sex abusers – House Bill 1090 – so that it applied to public and private institutions. That measure would remove the statute of limitations for lawsuits related to sex abuse against children and allow lawsuits against private institutions.
Staff writer Eric Gorski can be reached at 303-820-1698 or egorski@denverpost.com.
