A STATEMENT FROM THE DIOCESE OF TOLEDO:

Sub. SB 17, as passed by the Ohio House of Representatives and Senate yesterday, focuses on protecting children from sexual abuse now and in the future. The bill extends the statute of limitations for filing a civil lawsuit against alleged sexual abusers from the current two years (by age 20) to twelve years (by age 30).

It requires the Attorney General to create a civil registry of sex-offenders on the Internet. An individual who is prevented from commencing a civil action for childhood sexual abuse solely because of the expiration of the statue of limitations may seek a court determination (declaratory judgment action) that the individual has been abused. If the court agrees with the victim’s claim, the court shall order that the offender’s name be listed on the civil registry and that the offender report the address of his or her residence and employment to the sheriff on a yearly basis. It further requires Ohio’s occupational licensing boards to consider a person’s listing on the civil registry in issuing licenses.

The bill stops the clock on the statute of limitations if it is found that an abuser has fraudulently concealed pertinent information from the victim. It increases the penalty from a fourth degree to a first degree misdemeanor for clergy who fail to report known child abuse or neglect by someone employed by the church. It also creates a separate, mandatory reporting requirement for clergy. By this requirement, clergy must report abuse or neglect of a child if the clergyperson has reasonable cause to believe that abuse occurred.

Eliminated from SB 17 9 (as passed by the Senate) is the one-year window or look-back provision, which would have allowed persons claiming sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits for alleged offenses which occurred up to 35 years ago. The Catholic Conference of Ohio argued against the window, claiming that this provision is unconstitutional and does nothing to prevent the abuse of children.

The Diocese of Toledo, the Bishops of Ohio and the Ohio Catholic Conference have supported the legislation that expands the opportunities for alleged victims of clergy sexual abuse to report their abuse, as well as the expansion of reporting requirements for all clergy and other professionals regarding alleged sexual abuse.

The diocese continues to pray for all victims of abuse, and encourages anyone who has been the victim of clergy sexual abuse to have the courage to come forward and report the abuse to the civil authorities and the diocese. The Diocese of Toledo adheres to the Charter for the Protection of Young People as established by the nations Bishops in an effort to protect children from clergy child sexual abuse.