Catholic Church spent $2M on lobbying firms to block child-sex law reform

[Luiz 4,253]

ALBANY — Not leaving it to divine chance, the state Catholic Conference has turned in recent years to some of Albany’s most well-connected and influential lobby firms to help block a bill that would make it easier for child sex abuse victims to seek justice.

The Catholic Conference, headed by Timothy Cardinal Dolan, has used Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker, Patricia Lynch & Associates, Hank Sheinkopf, and Mark Behan Communications to lobby against the Child Victims Act as well as for or against other measures.

All told, the conference spent more than $2.1 million on lobbying from 2007 through the end of 2015, state records show. That does not include the conference’s own internal lobbying team.

Filings show the lobbyists were retained, in part, to work on issues associated with “statute of limitations” and “timelines for commencing certain civil actions related to sex offenses.” Other issues included parochial school funding and investment tax credits.

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The Senate GOP opposes the one-year “lookback” window that Democrats are calling for.

The Catholic Church, some Orthodox Jewish groups, and other private entitiesoppose legislation by Assemblywoman Margaret Markey (D-Queens) and Sen. Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan) that would eliminate the time limit that prohibits adults who were victimized as children from bringing civil cases after their 23rd birthdays.

Another top firm, Patricia Lynch & Associates, whose namesake had close ties to now disgraced Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, was hired by the Catholic Conference in 2009. Lynch’s firm for many years was ranked in the top 3 of well-paid lobbyists.

Lynch’s hiring by the Catholic Conference came after the Assembly passed different versions of the Child Victims Act four times from 2006 to 2008. The measure never came up again for a vote after Lynch was hired.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/catholic-church-hired-lobby-firms-block-n-y-kid-rape-laws-article-1.2655010

[VANTABLACK 7,793]

Take that $2 million and feed the homeless and underprivileged . What is wrong with this world, how can they call themselves Catholic. What would jesus(gaga) say bout this .smh 

[Lion Heart 15,041]

Disgusting. 

[SychosSoChic 9,995]

Of course Catholic priests would be against this

I mean it's not like they're CLEARLY sweating bullets at the idea of some men coming out about their stories of abuse

The Vatican as always remains completely transparent despite all their pathetic attempts at remaining hip, cool and reformed. Why does it allow BS like this?
There are people dying of hunger in China, and this is how they spend their money?

[Didymus 34,380]

Embarrassing.

It's nothing more than a company disguised as a religious institution nowadays.

[Morphine Prince 109,683]

Not surprised this disgusting institution did this. 

Don't quote me, not here for your BS. 

[LanasNerfGun 4,679]

If this is what they're spending their money on, I say repeal their tax exemption or at least do so to the higher earning churches.  Separation of church and state people.

[TiphEret 1,320]

Well that reminds me the legal age for sex in Vatican... very telling