Petitioning Executive Vice President, Agudath Israel of America Rabbi David Zwiebel and 2 others
Agudath Israel: Stop Blocking Passage of Child Victims Act
Dear Rabbi Zwiebel, Mr. Werdiger and Rabbinic Leaders of Agudath Israel:
We respectfully join in writing to you regarding the Child Victims Act and to express our grave concerns for child safety given Agudath Israel's past and current dangerous actions.
The Child Victims Act, also known as the Markey Bill, sponsored by Assemblywoman Margaret Markey (D-Queens) seeks to eliminate time limits in criminal and civil cases of child sexual abuse.
New York's archaic statute of limitations sharply limits the time victims have to bring charges against a molester. A victim must come forward within five years after the age of 18 to bring criminal or civil charges against their abuser or any agency or organization that should have reported the crime.
Given the emotional and psychological devastation that victims of child sexual abuse endure they are often slow to come to grips with their past. Some are unable to do so until middle age or even later in life but certainly not before the age of 23. Furthermore, in our religious communities, this critical age (18-23) is a time when young people are seeking a suitable spouse (shiduchim) creating an especially vulnerable situation where victims of abuse may be reticent to come forward with charges regarding the abuse suffered. Thusly, New York's current statute of limitations supported by Agudath Israel protects predators and those who shield them, while often denying justice to their victims.
The passage of the Child Victims Act is not only essential for the healing of past victims; it is crucial in ensuring the safety of other children. Many studies indicate that sex offenders will victimize on average over 100 individuals over the course of their lives. This bill intends to suppress this frightening statistic and prevent further harm from being perpetrated towards new victims.
It has been recently reported in Newsweek and NY Daily News that Agudath Israel has teamed up with the Catholic Church, an institution infamous for covering up child sexual abuse, to aggressively lobby against the passage of the Markey Bill on numerous occasions over the last decade.
Furthermore, this April the NY Daily News reported that Agudath Israel is currently opposed to any civil or criminal changes in the law in NY, fearing a flood of lawsuits. A sexual abuse insurance policy can be purchased by institutions to aid against any lawsuits that may arise. However, it ought to be of prime importance to support the victims rather than the perpetrators of heinous crimes.
Currently, the Child Victims Act being considered is comprised of two separate bills - one eliminating statute of limitations for criminal cases and one addressing civil cases. We urge you to support passage of the Markey Bill in its entirety or at least the passage of the criminal bill. If these steps require moral courage not yet gained, at the very least cease from lobbying against this Act that can prevent child sexual abuse and save countless precious lives.
In closing, in line with the Torah's commandment in Leviticus 19:16, admonishing Jews to “not stand by while your neighbor’s blood is being shed,” we respectfully urge you to do all in your power to deter abusers and prevent harm from being perpetrated towards our children.
Thank you and respectfully,
This petition will be delivered to:
- Executive Vice President, Agudath Israel of America
- Rabbi David Zwiebel
- Chairman of the Board, Agudath Israel of America
- Mr. Sol Werdiger
- Chairman Emeritus, Agudath Israel of America
- Rabbi Gedaliah Weinberger
Read the letter
If the bill only abolished the SOL on the abuser it would get all the support needed. Because the bill includes the institution as well the agudah and others feel that if an administration did something wrong decades earlier and there is no remnant of those enablers left in the organization the organization would still be destroyed under this bill. Go after abusers and Drop the part of the institution SOL and it would be passed.
ReplyDeleteArthur, how do you see the institution making good on the failings of a prior administration? Or do you feel that institutions should be given a free pass?
ReplyDeleteI did not write what I personally think about the institutions I only wrote what is holding the issue back and if you want to at least be able to go after the abuser then drop part of the bill and the rest would pass.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the organizations feel they should get a free pass however it's difficult to write a law dictating partial responsibility so it's an all or nothing bill and the agudah and the Catholics feel that go after the perp for everything but from an institutional standpoint go with the nothing.
Thanks for the response. I accept what you're saying, but see two issues with your תפסת מרובה, לא תפסת approach:
ReplyDelete1) Given the damage done, it is generally the institution with the wherewithal to provide recompense, not the individual.
2) In many cases, the enabling of the abuser (often accompanied by villification of victim and family) makes overlooking that abuse even more unconscionable.
And thank you for your feedback. Unfortunately it is an unusual occurrence to have normal conversations on a blog between posters so I appreciate your tone.
ReplyDeleteI would only say to your two points that although you may often be correct it is difficult to write a law that will only apply if the institution is able to pay or was actually guilty of vilifying the victim. Additionally, maybe perhaps if the institution did not feel they would be under the gun they would be more supportive of victims (ok, probabaly not but maybe). Which brings me back to my original point; I think that the agudah should champion the cause of suing the abuser without sol or at least extending it and have mutual agreement on this point and pass that part of the bill and leave the organization part out.