The following letter by Archbishop Charles Chaput, or a similar letter signed by archdiocesan pastors, was read or made available in all 219 parishes of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia during Masses last weekend, June 4-5.
In addition to the letter in English and Spanish, a document explaining HB 1947, a bill that would retroactively lift the statutes of limitation in Pennsylvania for civil lawsuits in cases of child sexual abuse, was also provided to parishioners in English and Spanish to help them understand the issue more fully.
Also provided was a document in English and Spanish detailing steps the Philadelphia Archdiocese has taken to meet the needs of victims of clergy sexual abuse and to prevent future abuse of any child.
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Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
A bill is currently pending in our state senate, HB 1947, that poses serious dangers for all of our local parishes and for the ministries, charities and schools of our archdiocesan Church. With this letter, I urge you to write or telephone your local state senator and members of the state Senate Judiciary Committee to vote against HB 1947, and especially to oppose any retroactivity provision in the civil statute of limitation covering sexual abuse.
All of us are rightly angered by the crime of sexual abuse. Over the past decade the Church has worked very hard to support survivors in their healing, to protect our children and to root this crime out of Church life. But HB 1947 and bills like it are destructive legislation being advanced as a good solution. The problem with HB 1947 is its prejudicial content. It covers both public and religious institutions — but in drastically different and unjust ways. The bill fails to support all survivors of abuse equally, and it’s a clear attack on the Church, her parishes and her people.
HB 1947 is retroactive for private and religious entities, but not retroactive for public institutions. It places very low caps on damages for sexual abuse in public schools in the future. And it makes it hard for abuse victims to sue public institutions going forward. Meanwhile, private and religious entities face unlimited liability for exactly the same evil actions, and not just going forward, but also in the past.
This is not justice. In fact, HB 1947 actually excludes most victims. And it also targets innocent Catholic parishes and families, like your own, who will bear the financial burden of crimes committed by bad individuals in the past, along with the heavy penalties that always result from these bad bills.
This is not just an archdiocesan problem. In other states where similar legislation passed, local parishes have been sued, resulting in parish and school closures and charity work being crippled. The effect of bills like HB 1947 is to erase the sacrifices of generations of faithful Catholics who have done nothing wrong.
The Church in Pennsylvania accepts its responsibility for the survivors of clergy sex abuse. It’s committed to helping them heal for however long that takes. But HB 1947 and bills like it are not an answer. This kind of legislation is unjust and deeply misleading. It benefits too few victims, and it ends up punishing Catholic parishes and families who are innocent of any wrongdoing.
This is a serious and time-sensitive matter. Please take a few minutes to review the important information materials available at the exits after Mass. Senate hearings begin on or around June 13. Please act now to contact your senator, and members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and urge them to oppose HB 1947 and any effort to impose civil statute retroactivity.
You can do that quickly and easily by visiting www.pacatholic.org. That’s the website for our state Catholic Conference, and you’ll see a prominent link on the homepage about this vital matter. Thank you and God bless you.
Sincerely yours in Jesus Christ,
Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Archbishop of Philadelphia
This type of law was defeated in California as patently unfair to single out only one type of institution. We exposed its obvious intent by writing to protest it in newspaper opinion columns as well as complaining to our state representatives. Keep on bucking this anti-catholic trend where ever it rears its ugly head.
Archbishop Chaput’s statement is perfect. It is a study in just, measured, considerate, helpful, guiding, and many other qualities of excellence. Last Thursday’s Philadelphia Inquirer’s article (6/9/16), front page, over the fold, is an obvious display of anti-Catholicism. Other articles show the same prejudice. We Catholics rightfully defend ourselves against blatant injustice and discrimination, and the anticlerical forces of this world attack us. For this is the source of the relentless pursuit of the Catholic Church: resentment and hatred of Catholic priests. Some people, including some legislators, do not recognize their deep motivations or see what is happening, blinded by the sway of the avalanche of the negative treatment of the Holy Catholic Church in the secular media. These poor priests. Clear-minded people, following the hierarchy, understand. Actually, the strong response of Pennsylvanians loyal to the Church and praying for the victims, is a good sign. We must speak up. The charitable donations have increased, the many actions taken to staunch the expenditures for parishes and schools that should be closed, and the personal sacrifices of priests financially and for their care are substantial: these, apart from the financial and personal drain on the Archdiocese from the issue of accusations. The Catholic Church has done and continues to do everything to admit, atone for, and help the victims. The deeds of the Church and the Archdiocese scream out at the injustice done them.
Justice is supposed to be blind, that is, to apply equally, and this bill fails that criterion. But perhaps Archbishop Chaput could propose a bill that holds all to the same standards as it does to private institutions.
Good This is a stupid Billl I wrote to the people envolved telling them not to passs it.
For any of you who are concerned that this will bankrupt the church: maybe it’s time the pope sold some of his fancy hats and gold walking sticks.
Justice is giving EVERY person who was molested the opportunity to seek compensation, both monetary and punishment, regardless of how many years have passed since the crime. If your child had been molested you would be furious if a time limit was passed to prohibit justice, we should all be outraged. Pass this bill and let those injured come forward for their day in court. I think that is exactly what Jesus would want. Justice for all, no matter how long it takes.
HB 1947 needs to be passed. The response from the church is so bad. The church says it’s unfair because it leaves out the public institutions. Just an excuse. Why should we pay for cases 20 years ago? Because the priests are guilty. It will bankrupt our parishes? Good!!
You want the Church to close?
I disagree with Archbishop Chaput’s letter.The welfare of victims of clergy sex abuse should come before money. Every victim should be given every opportunity to heal no matter when they have the courage to report their abuse. What would Jesus do to help these victims?
The archdiocese objects to this law because it is an unjust law. I worked in a Catholic school and the processes in place to weed out predators and prevent unlawful contact as a result of the church’s efforts (in place for many years), far exceeds anything the public schools have done. Hardly a week goes by without another headline about public school teacher abuse or underage sexual escapades. But this bill does nothing to address those outrages, because the state does not allow these victims to seek justice in the form of large monetary awards. The state will not allow itself to be bankrupted. But more important to me, is the question “why have statute of limitation laws?” They existed to protect the innocent from unjust accusations. A dead man cannot defend himself, witnesses have moved or also died, evidence is lost, and it becomes a one-sided case of he-said, she-said, without one side not having the opportunity to defend against the charges. Not all the accused have been guilty, but all the accused have been smeared and destroyed. This was a horrible breach of trust, and the church has paid dearly in every sense of the word for its failures. But it is doing its best to make amends. The hatred spewed here is unbecoming. All the guilty will be judged. But unfortunately, so will those who cannot find it within themselves to forgive injustice. Source – The Our Father.
I hope and pray that advice was sought from the Archdiocese legal representatives before all this was done from all the parishes in light of IRS rule 501, exemptions which clearly outline what non-profits can and cannot do. The political backlash from this could be catastrophic.
https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/exemption-requirements-section-501-c-3-organizations
Thank you for providing the link. Here is an excerpt from the link: it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.
Keywords being “substantial part”. I would not consider these efforts to be substantial. As a matter of fact, the letter was not read in our parish and there was nothing in our bulletin.
I am a practicing Catholic and I am in total awe of the denial the archdiocese still holds regarding their actions. The Archdiocese stated in this letter that for the last decade they have been taking actions to address the history of the Curch’s condoned sexual abuse of children. I walked out of mass during the homily that read the Cardinal’s letter and the supporting homily. I went our in anger and kept repeating shame, shame, shame.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia should be held to a higher standard and higher penalties. This is about holding our moral leaders responsible and accountable for their actions against humanity.
The church betrayed our trust. The church betrayed our children and allowed our children to be sexually abused. The leaders of our church were fully aware of these crimes, choosing to protect the pedophiles and allowed this abuse to continue. The church hid this behavior for 50 or more years. The only reason the church has taken any actions over the last decade is because they were exposed by the outside community. The church had many opportunities to right thei wrongs and chose time and time agai to close their eyes, protect their coffers and used money and intimidation to prevent this reality from being exposed. The church continues to use threats and manipulation by telling their parishioners that if this measure goes through each of your churches and your schools will be closed. They have asked, sincerely innocent parishioners, who love their churches and schools to the state and request the measure not be passed in order to protect the institutions they love.
Innocent institutions, innocent parishes and innocent people have nothing to fear from this mandate. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia lost its moral compass in this matter and over and over again through 50 or more years decided to protect the predators and not the innocent babes. By the Archdiocese’s silence it allowed the cancer to grow and spread.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia promoted themselves as the highest moral authority in our region and as such should be held to the highest penalty for their sins of omission.
Did you even read the article to the end?
If my understanding of this bill is correct, it would effectively create two classes of victims with different legal standing that depends on where the abuse was alleged to have occurred. That is not justice.
Quite right.
What’s sauce for the goose (Catholic schools) is sauce for the gander (public schools). Otherwise there’s no equality under the law.
The secular world has gone mad and will do everything it can to destroy the Catholic Church and all the good they do for others. I don’t live in the Philly area, but know how blessed the archdiocese is with its amazing leadership in a solid shepherd like Archbishop Chaput. You will all be in my prayers!
The church needs to be held responsible for the acts of its Priests and employees. This letter attempts to escape justifiable responsibility for the criminal acts of the Church. It shows how little the church understands about the abuse carried out by its Priests. Perhaps the ONLY way the Church will learn if it gets hit in the bank account — of course that will not repair the ruined lives of so many children, but it might, just might, cause the church to spend its energies solving this problem and preventing any further crimes instead of harboring predators. Society is telling you we won’t put up with your nonsense anymore and your response is to lobby lawmakers and invest in Public Relations spin. You still just don’t get it, so I am totally fine with having the church face its accusers in court.
We are all outraged by injustices afflicted upon innocent children for so long. What must be realized, though, she one speaks of the “church” having to pay is that the church is both laupeople and hierarchs. In fact, many if not all of the priests and hierarchs who are responsible for these atrocities are dead. Accordingly, the “church” that will pay are largely recipients of charity, poor children with achance to get a better education than they wool at many public schools, etc. Ask yourself this: If this was extended to public institutions and resulted I closures of schools hospitals, and many social services, would you still support it?
WE are too soft and need to cost the government time and money. Our Pro-Life march is ignored by our politicians, but other minorities are given much more attention and action.
The only thing I agree with is that there should be no statute of limitations on child abuse for anyone or any institution, public or private or whatever. I know many kids in my parish of St Cecilia in Fox Chase were molested and raped! What those priests did is Despicable and what the church leaders did is Unforgivable! You had the chance to do the right thing and stop the abuse, but you were worried that the money would stop rolling in. You get no sympathy from me, if your churches and schools close.
HB1947 is justice. How can the Church lobby against justice for victims of sex abuse? Children have suffered enough. When will the Church stand up for the victims of priest abuse?
Hi, Kathleen. So you would support amending this bill to make the same provisions apply to public institutions? Because at this point, it does not, and specifically protects those institutions. And to be clear about what this means: You would be ok with your kids’ school or your business being shut down because 20 years ago a teacher/employee molested a child and the principal/boss unjustly protected this teacher? Or is it only the Catholic Church that should be vulnerable to such claims?
This is outrageous overreach. It’s not only Catholic institutions but all faith based schools and churches. Stand up Pennsylvanians of faith.
“it ends up punishing Catholic parishes and families who are innocent of any wrongdoing…”
(Lifting the statutes of limitation) forces archdiocesan leadership to turn over internal documents in civil discovery which would reveal conduct and decision-making by church leadership in response to credible allegations of child sexual abuse. Whoever said that the parishes and families were responsible for the failure to properly monitor and supervise those clergy with credible allegations of sexual abuse? It has been, is now and always be the leadership responsible for the reporting and monitoring of such alleged criminal behavior.
We must fight this bill … please God.
I signed the petition I also sent it through Facebook to all my family and friends and anyone else that will read it. It is about time then our legislators listened to our needs not push their interests. This is just one way to crush the Catholic religion but we will not stand for it. My faith is deep.