Bishop Zubik Supports Repeal of Diocese Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Statute of Limitations

The Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (IRCP) was created to help manage claims of clergy sexual abuse when filed by a minor. However, the IRCP has a clause that greatly limits the number of cases it will actually support by protecting essentially any Catholic Diocese member who is not a bishop. Teachers, nuns, monks, and other people employed by a Diocese were sheltered in the IRCP’s language. It also only allows a two-year statute of limitations for cases brought forth by someone who is sexually abused as an adult.

In a recent discussion of the IRCP and the ongoing clergy sexual abuse scandal that has harrowed the nation, Bishop David Zubik of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh showed his support for repealing those strict statutes. According to Zubik, the IRCP should be there to help all abused peoples, not just people who had been sexually abused by a very specific category of Diocese member. The support of a prominent Bishop such as Zubik is a great step in the right direction for the situation as a whole.

Robert Peirce & Associates, P.C. has gotten involved with the clergy abuse scandal as well by representing a male student who was abused at St. Bernard’s Elementary School. We reported on this case in a previous blog entry, which you can view here.

At that time, Zubik had already commented that the IRCP is about stopping future abuse and recognizing the harm done by past abuse. It is not surprising that he has gone a step further in supporting the statute repeals. Whether or not the IRCP will repeal those statutes, or if other members of noteworthy Dioceses will stand by Bishop Zubik, is not known at this time.