Photo Credits: Aleteia
New York State’s Child Victims Act went into effect earlier this month, temporarily lifting the statute of limitations for child sex-abuse cases. Under the new law, people in New York have one year to file retroactive sexual-abuse lawsuits — reviving cases that expired years ago under previous statute of limitations, which required child sexual-abuse offenses to be prosecuted within five years of their alleged occurrence.
“This bill will provide necessary relief to child victims of sexual abuse by amending New York’s antiquated laws to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions, regardless of when the crime occurred,” Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office said in a statement.
That’s why many victims are filing lawsuits against abusers and this “look-back window” is expected to lead to hundreds or thousands of lawsuits against churches, schools, youth groups, and hospitals. It immediately led to 427 new lawsuits filed on the first day the law went into effect. One such lawsuit is a lawsuit against a now-deceased priest from the Diocese of Buffalo (New York) who allegedly sexually abused multiple young kids and forced them into group sex with each other while he watched and participated.
Rev. Richard P. Judd was included on a list of priests who had been accused of child sex abuse, but further information wasn’t disclosed.
The lawsuit reads: For several hours PLAINTIFF and the other boys and FR. JUDD drank beer, watched sports, and smoked cigarettes, until PLAINTIFF started to become intoxicated. After hours had passed, FR. JUDD asked Jerry T. if he should invite someone named Grace Anne to the apartment…
Shortly thereafter FR. JUDD called to PLAINTIFF and Matthew W. and they entered the bedroom. PLAINTIFF observed Jerry T. engaging in sexual intercourse with Grace Anne, with FR. JUDD assisting by manipulating Jerry T.’s penis and instructing Jerry T. from behind. All three were in a state of complete undress. PLAINTIFF quickly felt uncomfortable as he stood observing Jerry T., FR. JUDD, and Grace Anne naked in bed, the latter of which appeared to be under the influence of some type of drug. PLAINTIFF had never engaged in sexual intercourse before.
When, a few days later, the plaintiff went to church to confess his sins, the only priest there was Judd. After confessing the incident, Judd offered a few prayers and told the plaintiff to perform three “Hail Mary’s” and one “Our Father.”
The plaintiff is still suffering the side effects decades later. These problems include, but are not limited to, severe depression, low self-esteem, anxiety, inability to manage anger, alcoholism and drug abuse, sex addiction, difficulty trusting others, guilt and shame.
