A bit of sanity appears to have broken out in the Michigan state legislature. There is a bill to extend the statute of limitations on sexual abuse. It would lift it entirely for abuse suffered as a child and significantly lengthen it for adult sexual abuse. This is extremely important legislation and hopefully will spread. Sexual abuse, especially of children, is an insidious evil in our society. The abused experience the fear and degradation over and over, no matter whether the abuse continues. They are left with years of loss of self worth, suspicion, inability to form emotional attachments. Many become self destructive in the form of drug abuse, self mutilation and even suicide. It takes years to come to terms with the violation and by that time, there is usually no avenue for justice. Not only has the statute basically absolved the abuser, but the public humiliation, especially for men, is too great.
The #metoo movement as well as this type of legislation are a sign that there is some basic decency and compassion in our society. The Michigan Senate has passed the bill. It only remains for the House to follow suit.
So who could oppose such a forward thinking, compassionate bill? For one, our old friend, the Catholic Church. This bastion of power that supposedly defends the defenseless says it fears the bill “will open doors which have been closed.” Uh, yeah. That’s the whole point. A Michigan legislator has stated “the Catholic Church has a lot to be worried about.” No shit.
The Catholic Church has shown that it is glad to export child abuse around the world by reassigning predatory clergy time and again. But this rises to be the most despicably kind of hypocrisy ever. This church which was supposedly started by Jesus, who exhorted us to care for the children, tend to the widow and orphan, minister to those in need, this church has decided its pocketbook is more important that its whole reason for being. By this act they have abandoned whatever moral high ground they may have once occupied and slithered into the sewer where they belong.
As a sexual abuse survivor I call bullshit on them. For shame. If there were a Jesus or loving god, this would not be their representative. This is the organization that fights marriage equality; that sees women as less than men; that opposes condom use in AIDS stricken countries; that sanctifies a self serving woman who schemed to keep poverty stricken people in pain and misery. The evil and moral bankruptcy that is the Catholic Church has long passed its expiration date. It needs to be swept into the dustbin of history along with likeminded organizations such as the Nazis and KKK. Thank you for reading. I feel better now.