Catholic Leaders Fight Legislation on Suits

Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput is among those pointing to the sexual abuse of children in public schools and calling the measures anti-Catholic. (Ed Andrieski - AP)

David Clohessy of the Survivors' Network says the most vigorous effort to block proposed get-tough measures has come here in Colorado. "Bishop Chaput attacks relentlessly," he said. "We're all watching now to see if other bishops take up these tactics."

Chaput declined through a spokesman to comment for this article.

In an interview with a national church newspaper, Our Sunday Visitor, Chaput said his lobbying strategy should be taken up by other dioceses. He noted that most other bishops have refrained from making comparisons to abuse in public schools. "Nobody in the church has wanted to highlight it, out of a misguided sense of propriety," he told the newspaper. "This is a mistake."

In letters read to all parishes in his diocese this winter, Chaput argued that it is unfair to change the statute of limitations for private entities and churches but not the public schools. But his focus on abuse cases in public schools has sparked a backlash from legislators.

"They've been molesting children, and now they say, everybody does it? It's morally repugnant," said Gwyn Green, a Democratic state representative and Roman Catholic who has sponsored one of the pending bills. "When I was in Catholic school if I did something wrong and then said, 'Well, Johnny did it, too,' I would be very firmly informed that pointing fingers at others is not an acceptable response."

The church's lobbying effort has turned the child-abuse debate into a partisan matter in Colorado, with Democrats generally supporting the new legislation and Republicans largely opposed.

"I don't think there are many, or even any, Republican votes for these bills," said GOP state Sen. Greg Brophy. "Nobody wants to bankrupt the Catholic Church, and that's what this would do."

Green has amended her bill to allow more civil suits against public entities. The church is still fighting the measure, according to Christopher Rose of the Colorado Catholic Conference.