By: Leon Kwasi Kuntuo-Asare

In late 2018 Pope Francis, while speaking about victims of church sexual abuse, said:

“the pain of the victims and their families is also our pain, and so it is urgent that we once more reaffirm our commitment to ensure the protection of minors and of vulnerable adults”.

Despite, that statement by the leader of the Catholic church, which could sound inspirational to advocates for victims of sexual abuse, the church actually spent over $10 million dollars lobbying against bills that could make the church responsible criminally and civilly for the heinous crimes of their clergy.

According to a new study that was revealed by CBS News, in the eastern part of the United States, between the years 2011-2018 the church spent:

$5,322,979 in Pennsylvania

$2,912,772 in New York

$875,261 in Connecticut

$633,458 in New Jersey

$537,551 in Massachusetts

$134,345 in New Hampshire

$124,260 in Maine

$61,961 in Maine

Over $10.6 million in total to challenge bills that if passed into law, could challenge the current restrictions on the statute of limitations and make it a lot easier for adults who were sexually abused as kids to seek justice in a criminal and or civil court against the Catholic church.

For additional information use the link below:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/catholic-church-scandal-spent-10-million-lobbyists-fight-extension-statutes-of-limitations-child-sex-abuse-vicims/