Americans think statute of limitations laws should be applied equally

Last updated on: July 18, 2016 at 9:54 pm by CNA Daily News

Americans think statute of limitations laws should be applied equally 2016-07-18T21:54:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Jul 18, 2016 / 03:54 pm (CNA).- By a 2-to-1 margin, Americans believe it is unfair to extend the statute of limitations regarding sex abuse cases for private institutions but not public ones.

A new national survey, which polled 1,009 adults in the U.S., was conducted by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion July 5-12, 2016. It was sponsored by Catholic News Agency.

Participants were asked if they think it is fair or not fair to allow people more time to come forward and sue a private school or institution, but not if they claim abuse from a public one.

Statute of limitations laws limit the amount of time in which a lawsuit may be filed.

Efforts have been made in some states to change the statute of limitations in order to allow more time for people who say they were sexually abused as children to come forward. In some of these cases – including New York and Pennsylvania – the longer time period would apply to private organizations but not to public schools or government institutions.

Of all poll participants, 60 percent believed that it would be unfair to change the rules to allow greater time to come forward against private institutions than public ones. This was more than double the 29 percent who believed that the change would be fair, with 11 percent unsure.

This trend was consistent among Catholics and non-Catholics, practicing Catholics and non-practicing Catholics, and those who are practicing any religion or not practicing a religion, with differences in these groups falling within the 3.1 percent margin of error. In each category, about 60 percent said it was unfair to extend the statute of limitations for private but not public institutions.

Millennials, members of Generation X, and Baby Boomers all responded similarly to the poll, with about 63 percent saying the changes were unfair, 27-30 percent saying it was fair, and about 9 percent unsure.

The Silent Generation – those over age 69 – deviated somewhat from this trend. Among this group, 47 percent believed it was unfair to extend the statute of limitations for private institutions but not public ones. Thirty-one percent said that it was fair, and 22 percent were undecided.

Among men, 59 percent thought the changes would be unfair, while 30 percent thought they would be fair, with 12 percent undecided. For women, 62 percent believed the changes to be unfair, while 28 percent thought it would be fair and 10 percent were undecided.

Previous Post

July 18, 2016

Only Christ offers answers in our violent world, Baton Rouge bishop says

Next Post

July 19, 2016 Remember the Copts ISIS martyred in Libya? This priest does.

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How old was Noah when flood began?

Select your answer to see how you score.

550 years 600 years 450 years 500 years