Clergy Sex Abuse Survivors and Iowa Legislator Call for Changes to Child Sex Abuse Laws
DES MOINES, Iowa -- The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests held a press conference at the Iowa Capitol with Iowa State Senate Minority Leader Janet Petersen on Wednesday to call on legislators and the attorney general to do more for victims of child sexual abuse.
SNAP President Tim Lennon shared his story of being sexually abused when he was 12-years-old by a Catholic priest.
“When I was about 43 I remembered some of the abuse. This priest would molest me in movies, at the park. He would pick me up at home. He was a friend of the family,” Lennon said.
Lennon said he suppressed the memories until they came up again when he was 43 and by then it was too late to pursue any type of justice.
“My viewpoint personally and from the viewpoint of my organization the survivors network of those abused by priests is there should be no statute of limitations.”
Sen. Petersen said Iowa law states victims of child sex abuse must report the crime within 15 years of the incident for criminal charges to be filed, but for civil law...