BANGOR, Maine — It was a packed courtroom in Bangor today as Maine Supreme Court Justices heard arguments on a law that removed the time limit for lawsuits involving child sexual abuse.
The law only passed in 2021, but already dozens of people have come forward to sue the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, claiming they were abused by priests and other church employees decades ago.
But the cases are on hold while the state's highest court decides whether the law is constitutional.
Inside the Penobscot Judicial Center, the attorney for the Roman Catholic Diocese told Maine's highest court that removing the statute of limitations on child sex abuse claims is unconstitutional.
Gerald Petruccelli says the law passed in 2021 imposes new liabilities and undermines the diocese's due process to a fair trial.
"A vested right to freedom from liability may not be yanked away," Petruccelli told the court.
The case was moved to the Maine Supreme Court after a lower court in March ruled that the law was constitutional. More than one hundred people have filed civil lawsuits against the Diocese, alleging abuse at the hands of its employees decades ago.
Michael Bigos represents dozens of people who say they were abused as children. They claim church leaders knew about the abuse, covered it up, and often reassigned priests to different parishes. Several survivors were in the packed court as Bigos told justices the law represents the people's will.
"There has never been a right to enable child sex abuse. The diocese wants you to create a vested right in getting away with it," Bigos said to the justices.
Bigos told reporters outside the courthouse some survivors traveled from as far away as Oklahoma and Canada, but they did not want to comment on the case.
"I don't want to make any statements today, just out of concern in deference to the decorum of the law court," Bigos stated.
State Rep. Lori Gramlich, (D) Old Orchard Beach and a survivor herself, was the lead sponsor of the law. She says the cases must progress so survivors can get long-overdue justice.
"Whether a heinous act happened in 1965 or yesterday is irrelevant. It still happened, and the accountable individuals need to be held accountable," Gramlich explained.
The Maine Supreme Court will take the oral arguments under advisement. Justices could issue a ruling in the next few months. The Dioceses' Office of Communications released a statement to News Center:
"The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland places the safety and protection of children as the highest priority. Initiatives have been in place for decades to ensure a safe environment for youth and vulnerable adults within parishes, schools, and institutions across Maine. Rigorous training, comprehensive employee background checks, and safe environment programming like Protecting God’s Children and Circle of Grace have proven effective through various independent audits. There has not been a substantiated new allegation of sexual abuse of a minor by a cleric in Maine since 1993. The diocese’s opposition to the 2021 retroactive change in the statute of limitations law and the appeal to the Law Court in no way reflects a desire to minimize the devastating effects of past sexual abuse by Church representatives. Before the law was changed, no limitations existed on any claims after 1988. The diocese is committed to thoroughly investigating any report of abuse brought forth and to providing extensive support services to those who come forward with any allegation of abuse. We believe this law is unconstitutional and will significantly impact the diocese’s ability to serve the Catholic community of Maine, including those most vulnerable."