On Friday 9/20, at 1:00PM sexual abuse survivors and supporters of SB 131 will gather on the Capitol lawn in Sacramento. Hope to see you there!
Jehovah Witness victims of Childhood Sex Abuse - and all supporters from California - Urgent Action Alert! Contact Assembly members today!
by Sol Reform 36 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse
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Sol Reform
Why do Republicans have such a good record of protecting pedophiles?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-hrabe/gov-brown-wont-be-fooled-_b_3941093.html
$250k Spent to Block Sexual Abuse Bill in California
Posted: 09/17/2013 3:47 pm Follow Catholic Church, Jerry Brown, Jim Beall, SB 131, child sexual abuse, Sexual Abuse, San Francisco News
You'd think that a bill to give victims of childhood sexual abuse more time to file a lawsuit would be the sort of non-controversial legislation that politicians would rush to champion. Well, you'd be wrong. A California bill to let a small group of sexual abuse victims bring forward lawsuits has faced intense opposition from the Catholic Church. Senate Bill 131 by State Senator Jim Beall, D-San Jose, passed the state Senate without a single vote to spare. It now awaits a decision by former Jesuit seminarian Gov. Jerry Brown. Why would state lawmakers block an effort to aid sexual abuse victims? Money. Organizations that harbored abusers are fearful that they will be held civilly liable for their role in covering up cases of childhood sexual abuse. Catholic dioceses in California have already paid out $1.2 billion in abuse settlements. Instead of facing a new round of lawsuits and more settlements, the church decided that it was better to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a lobbying campaign to block SB 131. In August, the Orange County Register first reported on the elaborate, high-priced lobbying scheme to defeat the bill. According to the Sacramento Bee,The newly created California Council of Nonprofit Organizations poured $258,000 into fighting the bill in the first six months of this year. The California Council, an umbrella organization of the California Catholic Conference, hired five lobbying firms, including heavyweight Lang Hansen O'Malley and Miller Governmental Relations.
These high-priced lobbyists did what they do best. They distorted the facts and spread misinformation about SB 131. One red herring raised by the hired guns: the bill is unfair because it does not revive cases against perpetrators or public entities. It only targets private institutions. The argument is a distraction from the issue. Perpetrators are covered by criminal law. Public entities are held liable under a separate code section. And it's irrelevant to whether the state should hold private institutions accountable, some of which, even today, remain in denial. "Today, there is no institution in the nation that has less of a problem with the sexual abuse of minors than the Catholic Church," claimed William A. Donohue, the president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, in a letter of opposition to SB 131. "In California, in particular, there has been so much progress that priestly sexual abuse has long since ceased to exist." Ceased to exist? Donohue doesn't understand that the threat of sexual abuse is ongoing. It never ceases to exist because there are always more predators. Victims will always face an uphill battle to be taken seriously. For that very reason, big institutions must remain ever vigilant and adopt procedures that encourage an ongoing discussion about sexual abuse. Eileen King, an expert on child abuse and the executive director of Child Justice, an outstanding nonprofit organization that advocates for abused, neglected and at-risk children, recently explained just how difficult it can be for victims to confront their accuser. "The survivor may feel enormous shame, conflicts of affection and loyalty, or may feel pressure to 'forgive and forget' -- especially when the perpetrator is a minister, priest, rabbi, or counselor who the survivor has held in awe and for whom he/she still feels strong ties of affection or obedience," she told me.
But, of all the red herrings concocted by Sacramento lobbyists, my personal favorite: The bill helps the greedy trial lawyers. Assemblywoman Diane Harkey, R-Dana Point, the bill's most vocal opponent, said, "It ought not to be just about reopening wounds and feeding trial attorneys."
Advocates for survivors of sexual abuse take umbrage with Harkey's argument. Joelle Casteix, Western Regional Director for SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, pointed out that some of the worst sexual abuse happened in Orange County, Harkey's backyard. "Saying that SB 131 is 'feeding trial attorneys' is a slap in the face to the brave victims in Harkey's own district who were able to use the 2003 civil window to expose men like Denis Lyons, Michael Pecharich and John Lenihan -- men who had escaped exposure because of the concerted actions of church officials to silence victims." As for reopening wounds, Casteix said,
The only way that old wounds are opened is when abuse is kept secret and wrongdoers are allowed to continue in abuse and cover-up. Victims are re-traumatized when lawmakers with no knowledge of the subject spout hurtful and incorrect rhetoric about the victims' rights movement in an attempt to keep more victims silent and disenfranchised.
Casteix raises another important point. "If Governor Brown signs SB 131 into law, victims can move onto the next step: eliminating sovereign immunity for public institutions that cover up child sex abuse," she said. "But if we lose SB 131, we will never have the momentum to tackle that huge feat."
I'm betting a former "Catholic rebel" like Jerry Brown will stand up for the silent and disenfranchised.
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Captain Obvious
How has this still not passed? I would think that most would be all over protecting abuse survivors and deterring abusers.
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Sol Reform
http://www.snapnetwork.org/rally_in_sacramento_sept_20?recruiter_id=21019
Rally in Sacramento Sept 20 A Rally to Support SB 131: The California Child Victims Act Tell Governor Brown: Sign this Bill! Help show California Governor Jerry Brown that SB 131 is an important child safety legislation that deserves his signature! Join other supporters united in the cause of child safety, civil justice and victim healing! When: Friday, September 20 Please arrive at 12:45 pm Rally scheduled to start at 1 pm Where: The lawn to the left of the State Capitol steps 1315 10th St (between L and N Streets) in Sacramento Participants will be wearing bright colors (neon pink and green) What to Bring: Signs showing your support, childhood photos If you can, wear bright colors. Contact: Teresa Rosson (916) 939-3715 [email protected] Organized by Supporters of SB 131 While SNAP is not an organizer of this event, the organizers have all of our support! For more information about SB 131: http://www.calcasa.org/sb-131 or http://sol-reform.com/News/the-constitutionality-of-s-b-131-an-act-relating-to-damages-childhood-sexual-abuse-statute-of-limitations/ If you cannot make the event, be sure to write Governor Brown to show your support. Here is the link to write letters: http://gov.ca.gov/m_contact.php
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Sol Reform
http://theworthyadversary.com/2237-sb-131-needs-your-voice-now
SB 131 Needs Your Voice NOW! Posted by Joelle Casteix on September 19, 2013 in Clergy Abuse Crisis | Subscribe It’s Thursday night and you are probably thinking, “I’m watching Thursday Night Football. There is nothing possible I can do to help convince California Governor Jerry Brown to sign SB 131, the California Child Victims’ Act.” Fortunately, you are WRONG! You can help RIGHT NOW. And we need you. Here is what you can do: 1. Write Governor Brown using the web form here. Tell him that you support SB 131. Here are some reasons why: SB 131 exposes predators who may still be abusing kids RIGHT NOW, SB 131 holds wrong-doers accountable for enabling and covering up child sex abuse, SB 131 helps victims heal from traumatic injury and takes the burden of their care off of social services and taxpayers, SB 131 can help provide valuable evidence of criminal activity that law enforcement can use to put predators behind bars, where they belong. There are many more. If you do tell your own story, keep it short – no more than two-three sentences.
2. Plan to attend tomorrow’s RALLY IN SUPPORT OF SB 131 at the State Capitol.
The rally, organized by concerned citizens in support of SB 131, will be on the lawn to the left of the Capitol steps – 1315 10th Street, between L and N Streets. Attendees will be wearing bright colors. Bring a sign showing your support. If you are a victim, bring a photo of yourself at the age you were abused. Organizers will be meeting at 12:45. The rally starts at 1 pm Whatever you do tonight, do SOMETHING to help victims who have been denied justice. It’s easy, it’s priceless, and you can do it during the Eagles/Chiefs game. - See more at: http://theworthyadversary.com/2237-sb-131-needs-your-voice-now#sthash.cuKQdl1q.xmi4TGqF.dpuf
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Sol Reform
California Bill to Help Sexual-Abuse Victims Sits on Governor’s Desk September 27, 2013 by Melissa McGlensey | 3 Comments California Senate Bill 131, otherwise known as the The Child Victims Act, was passed by the state Legislature earlier this year–but it’s still sitting on Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk. He has until October 13 to sign the bill, veto it or let it pass into law without signing.
The governor, a former Jesuit seminarian, is under pressure to veto the bill from Catholic dioceses and other Church officials, as well as from organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America and USA Swimming–all entities that could face lawsuits if the bill is passed into law.
The Child Victims Act would expand the statute of limitations for victims of sexual abuse to seek monetary damages in civil courts. If the bill becomes law, victims would be able to sue institutions that failed to adequately protect them from sexual predators. According to Irwin Zalkin, a clergy abuse lawyer in San Diego, many victims only realize later in life the psychological damage that their childhood abuse has had on them. Oftentimes, when they are ready to come forward, the statute of limitations has run out, their perpetrators are “either judgment-proof or dead” and the institutions who covered up the crimes continue to find ways to escape culpability. Representing sexual abuse survivors for the past decade, Zalkin has seen firsthand how devastating it is to a victim to be told they have no recourse when they finally muster the courage to confront what happened to them. In an interview with Ms., Zalkin stressed the importance of constituents speaking up:
I urge everyone to please contact Gov. Jerry Brown and voice your support for SB 131. The easiest way to do that is to go to the governor’s website and let him know that he should sign The Child Victims Act into law.
Catholic churches across California have mobilized their followers in the opposite direction, urging them to call and write the Governor’s office and ask that he veto SB 131, claiming it “unduly impacts the Church” by exposing them to “unlimited liability.” Barbara Blaine, president of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) and a clergy sexual-abuse survivor herself, told Ms: This bill will immediately make children in California safer. It will expose the identities of those who enable the predators and cover up the crimes. The secrecy and silence is what enables the sexual violence to spread, that’s why it’s important. It’ll protect kids and make California a safer place for children. Photo of Catholic priest praying from Flickr user Ghazilee165 under license from Creative Commons 2.0 Melissa McGlensey recently graduated from the University of Oregon with a B.A. in English and Spanish with a minor in creative writing; she is currently interning at Ms.
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Sol Reform
So … what’s going on with SB 131?
Posted by Joelle Casteix on October 2, 2013 in boy scouts, Child safety, Clergy Abuse Crisis | Subscribe Here is the latest on SB 131:
- Governor Brown has until October 13 (a previous blog post said October 10) to sign the bill, veto the bill, or do nothing.
- If he signs the bill or does nothing, SB 131 becomes law. As written, the law would go into effect on January 1, 2014.
- If Brown vetoes the bill, SB 131 is dead.
- See more at: http://theworthyadversary.com/2263-so-whats-going-on-with-sb-131#sthash.Jx0bQUUJ.L8z3pSsA.dpuf
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Sol Reform
http://theworthyadversary.com/2273-mn
Jerry Brown should look to MN to see import of Child Victims Act
Posted by Joelle Casteix on October 7, 2013 in Clergy Abuse Crisis | Subscribe
California Governor Jerry Brown has until Sunday, October 13 to sign or veto SB 131, The California Child Victims’ Act.
If he does nothing, the bill will be enacted as written.
In the meantime, victims wait. Here is why the bill’s opponents are scared: Minnesota enacted a THREE-YEAR civil window earlier this year and the revelations have been startling. They fear the same could happen in California. He’s had a bad couple of weeks.
Something tells me it’s only going to get worse. Here is what we have learned in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in just the past few weeks: Fr. Curtis Wehmeyer
Last year, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis won praise for quickly removing Fr. Curtis Wehmeyer when he was accused of abuse by a parishioner (he later pled guilty to 20 counts of abuse and possession of child pornography).
BUT … An investigation by Minnesota Public Radio discovered that Archdiocese officials had know about Wehmeyer’s conduct for a DECADE and did NOTHING. Of wait, they did dosomething: they kept Wehmeyer in ministry.
The Vicar General, the Whistleblower, and the Case of the Disappearing Banker’s Box of Child Pornography
Last week, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis resigned from his post when court documents showed that he may have hidden evidence of child pornography. According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:
His resignation came shortly after allegations emerged in a St. Paul court that church officials knew a priest had been in possession of child pornography but continued to assign him to parish duties that brought him into contact with children. The allegations were contained in a St. Paul police report made public Thursday in Ramsey County District Court. St. Paul attorney Jeff Anderson, a leading plaintiffs’ lawyer in pursuing cases against the archdiocese over child abuse, said the police report implies that the archdiocese destroyed evidence. The police report says that the archdiocese seized the evidence about the child pornography and kept it in a vault. When another diocesan official, Jennifer Haselberger, discovered the evidence, Laird told her to put it back in the vault, she told police. Haselberger, who has since resigned, brought the matter to police attention. When the police went to the vault, the evidence of child pornography that they were told would be there was missing.
The evidence is said to be in a white “Banker’s Box” It gets worse, the Star-Tribune continues:
Haselberger also told police that she had seen a report from a private investigator, Richard Setter & Associates, which the archdiocese hired to examine the computer and its contents. According to her, the report said that a forensic computer expert had examined the computer and found “thousands of images,” including some of a young boy performing oral sex on another male. The police requested a copy of the computer report but were turned down by the archdiocese. As for the computer, “We were told that was destroyed,” the police report says.
Of course if was destroyed. List? You don’t need no stinkin’ list! Minnesota’s victims of child sex abuse, empowered by these recent revelations, now want access to information they say is vital to public safety.
This request is not over-the-top. Even Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony posted his list of accused clerics online (and then took the list down, and then put it back up).
Lawyers for the St. Paul Archdiocese are fighting the request.
Shocker! But can you blame them? After everything we just learned, who knows what information is included on the list of 33 priests? The thought probably scares the chancery to its core.
If there has ever been a call to action to help victims of child sex abuse, Minnesota has given Jerry Brown all of the evidence he needs to sign SB 131.
You can write Governor Brown here.
- See more at: http://theworthyadversary.com/2273-mn#sthash.pCrqbrsr.dpuf
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Sol Reform
http://theworthyadversary.com/2306-t-minus-2-for-sb-131
T-minus 2 for SB 131
Posted by Joelle Casteix on October 11, 2013 in boy scouts, Child safety, Clergy Abuse Crisis | Subscribe
As of this writing, there is no new new news on SB 131.
California Governor Jerry Brown has until Sunday to sign the bill, veto it, or do nothing.
If he signs the bill or does nothing, SB 131 will become law on January 1, 2014 Let’s keep our fingers crossed for victims—all victims.
Why?
Because ALL victims will benefit if SB 131 becomes law.
According to Brown’s website, here is the status of many of the bills that have crossed his desk:
• AB 218 by Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) – Employment applications: criminal history.
• AB 256 by Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) – Pupils: grounds for suspension and expulsion: bullying.
• AB 389 by Assemblymember Das G. Williams (D-Santa Barbara) – Private schools: employees: criminal background checks.
• AB 514 by Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Alameda) – The Safe Schools for Safe Learning Act of 2013.
• AB 547 by Assemblymember Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield) – 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens program.
• AB 595 by Assemblymember Jimmy Gomez (D-Northeast Los Angeles) – Community colleges: priority enrollment.
• AB 610 by Assemblymember Katcho Achadjian (R-San Luis Obispo) – State hospitals: involuntary treatment.
• AB 626 by Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) – School nutrition.
• AB 635 by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) – Drug overdose treatment: liability.
• AB 647 by Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-Arcata) – The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act: beer manufacturers: containers.
• AB 753 by Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) – Cognitively impaired adults: caregiver resource centers.
• AB 899 by Assemblymember Shirley N. Weber (D-San Diego) – Academic content standards: English language development standards.
• AB 955 by Assemblymember Das G. Williams (D-Santa Barbara) – Community colleges: intersession extension programs. A signing message can be found here.
• AB 974 by Assemblymember Isadore Hall III (D-Compton) – Patient transfer: nonmedical reasons: notice to contact person or next of kin.
• AB 1025 by Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) – Public postsecondary education: credit by examination.
• AB 1068 by Assemblymember Richard H. Bloom (D-Santa Monica) – Pupil records.
• AB 1358 by Assemblymember Paul Fong (D-Cupertino) – Student body association: student representation fees.
• SB 168 by William W. Monning (D-Carmel) – Farm labor contractors: successors: wages and penalties.
• SB 236 by Senator Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) – School districts: four-day school week: Moorpark Unified School District.
• SB 368 by Senator Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) – Teachers: added authorization in special education.
• SB 390 by Senator Roderick D. Wright (D-Los Angeles) – Employee wage withholdings: failure to remit.
• SB 435 by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) – Compensation: meal and rest or recovery periods.
• SB 440 by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) – Public postsecondary education: Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act.
• SB 530 by Senator Roderick D. Wright (D-Los Angeles) – Criminal offenders: rehabilitation.
• SB 534 by Senator Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) – Health and care facilities.
• SB 590 by Senator Kevin De León (D-Los Angeles) – School personnel: professional development for classified school employees.
• SB 651 by Senator Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) – Developmental centers and state hospitals.
• SB 669 by Senator Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar) – Emergency medical care: epinephrine auto-injectors.
• SB 681 by Senator Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) – Community college districts: personal property. Governor Brown also announced that he has vetoed the following bills. • AB 300 by Assemblymember Henry T. Perea (D-Fresno) – Telecommunications: prepaid mobile telephony services: state surcharge and fees: local charges collection. A veto message can be foundhere.
• AB 375 by Assemblymember Joan Buchanan (D-Alamo) – School employees: dismissal or suspension: hearing. A veto message can be found here.
• AB 622 by Assemblymember Nora Campos (D-San Jose) – School districts: charter school petitions: Internet posting. A veto message can be found here.
• AB 704 by Assemblymember Robert Blumenfield (D-Woodland Hills) – Emergency medical services: military experience. A veto message can be found here.
• AB 1287 by Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) – Student financial aid: Cal Grant Program eligibility. A veto message can be found here.
• AB 1409 by Assemblymember Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) – Public utilities: voice communications: Moore Universal Telephone Service Act. A veto message can be found here.
• SB 284 by Senator Kevin De León (D-Los Angeles) – Income taxes: credits: contributions to education funds. A veto message can be found here.
• SB 285 by Senator Kevin De León (D-Los Angeles) – Student financial aid: Cal Grant Program. A veto message can be found here.
• SB 398 by Senator Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton) – Horse racing: distribution of proceeds. A veto message can be found here.
• SB 655 by Senator Roderick D. Wright (D-Los Angeles) – Fair Employment and Housing Act: unlawful practices. A veto message can be found here.
• SB 723 by Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) – Veterans. A veto message can be found here.- See more at: http://theworthyadversary.com/2306-t-minus-2-for-sb-131#sthash.hTPIoMXZ.dpuf
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Sol Reform
http://popecrimes.blogspot.ca/2013/08/california-bill-sb-131-must-win-next.html
Governor Jerry Brown, please sign SB 131 immediately….Contact/write to the Governor, tell him you support SB 131
Updated October 12, 2013 Long suffering victims of pedophile priests in California are joined together in anxious waiting for October 13 to see whether Governor Jerry Brown will sign or not sign...
If he does nothing California bill SB 131 will become law effective January 1, 2014, and justice will prevail once more in California for children. We are praying that Governor Jerry Brown will sign California bill SB 131, but we do not pray the robotic Rosary or the Divine Mercy.
Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe inspires us that she cannot stand these Catholic robotic prayers that remind Her so much of John Paul II who spent years on the fabrication of the new Luminous Mysteries but at the same time he covered-up 27 years of heinous crimes of his JP2 Army – John Paul II Pedophile Priests Army – the largest numbers who are in California.
The 5 new Mysteries of Light written by John Paul II proved the “JP2 Mysteries of Darkness” during his 27 years papacy wherein he said nothing and did nothing to protect children and to stop thousands of pedophile priests.
John Paul II is the most traveled pope but it was all for his narcissistic self glory as John Paul II “the Great” and now we are seeing that the JP2 Army tsunami really infested the whole world as far as Australia.
And now the Polish Papal Nuncio in the Dominican Republic was quietly sacked after families discover he has been pimping young prebucent boys, see news below.