It’s astonishing when a champion of morality protects those who have violated our most sacred trust, caring for our children. Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput delights in chastising Catholic politicians who disagree with him on moral issues, claiming they must be held accountable for disobeying church doctrine.
But the archbishop then rebukes politicians who want to hold his church accountable for appalling violations of our moral and legal codes, the sexual abuse of children by pedophile priests his church protected for decades. He charges legislators who propose extending the statute of limitations for lawsuits against child molesters and the institutions that hid them with being anti-Catholic.
That’s a classic case of deflection, cynically attempting to cast doubt on the credibility of your challengers by assigning illegitimate motives to them. These legislators, some lifelong Catholics, aren’t anti-Catholic; they’re anti-child abuse.
The archbishop wants any legislation to apply equally to public as well as private institutions. That’s fine. Public schools must report incidents of child abuse to legal authorities. For decades, the Catholic Church not only did not obey the laws that require reporting of child abuse, but actively moved deviant priests from parish to parish to cover up their abhorrent behavior. By doing that, they were exposing another group of children to abuse by those same priests.
The archbishop claims he just wants to “level the playing field” with public institutions. I think that’s a dandy idea. Since public institutions must disclose information about incidents of child abuse, Archbishop Chaput should do the same, to “level the playing field.” Instead, he and others across the country have adamantly refused to release information about pedophile priests they have protected for so long. Does he think that he and the Catholic Church aren’t subject to the same laws as other public and private institutions in this country? Does he think the Catholic victims who have requested information from the church have lesser rights than those whose abuse occurred in public institutions?
Sexual molestation of children is among the most detestable crimes committed in our society. Whether the perpetrator is a priest or family member or coach or club leader, the result is forever damaging to the victims and their families. No one and no institution should get away with protecting someone who has so despicably violated a child.
Colorado legislators are doing the right thing to hold not just the Catholic Church but all private institutions as accountable as public institutions for protecting children. Victims of abuse should have the right to challenge their abusers in criminal or civil court. They should have the right to see all available information about their molesters and an institution’s treatment of them. Victims should have more rights and protections than their abusers.
It’s disingenuous to say that public institutions have immunity from lawsuits. A public employee who violates the law has the same liability as any other criminal. Public institutions can be – and are – sued for damages, in addition to being legally required to disclose information. Public institutions cannot hide or coddle a child abuser. Private institutions should not be able to cover up criminal acts, either.
It’s equally disingenuous to smear the legislators who are trying to protect children as anti-Catholic. Archbishop Chaput would be a far stronger moral leader if he demanded that his institution and priests obey the same moral code he insists Catholic politicians follow. His attempts to intimidate legislators who are doing the right thing – trying to help victims and protect children – undermines the importance of his role as a key voice for moral values.
Sexual abuse of children by any person or institution is a highly charged issue. When a moral bulwark like the Catholic Church protects criminals rather than victims, we look to our political and judicial systems to hold them accountable. Colorado legislators trying to extend the statute of limitations on child molestation cases are doing the right thing. They should not bow to intimidation. They should do their job and protect our children.
Gail Schoettler is a former U.S. ambassador, Colorado lieutenant governor and treasurer. (Editor’s note: The House Thursday passed HB 1090, removing time limits for lawsuits against public and private institutions in cases of childhood sexual abuse. The bill moves to the Senate.)
