just pay the man

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Jan 11, 2006

Gay-friendly Bishop Gumbleton thinks legislators should lift the statute of limitations, making it easier for sex-abuse victims to sue and collect financial damages from their local dioceses.

"It could cost the church some money, but it also could bring a great deal of healing to a lot of victims," he said.

It could cost some money -- some money. The overall bill is over $1 billion, and rising too fast for anyone to keep an accurate account.

It could cost the church some money. And who is "the church," for these purposes? In practice the term refers to Joe the pipefitter and Harriet the schoolteacher and the Wallaces, who are already behind on the mortgage for their family farm. They'll be asked to throw a few more dollars into the collection baskets, to pay for the misdeeds of clerics who betrayed their trust.

"It could cost the church some money"-- words spoken with the insouciance of a man who knows that the money won't come out of his own wallet.