EXCLUSIVE: Catholic Church spent $2M on major N.Y. lobbying firms to block child-sex law reform

[edhopper]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/catholic-church-hired-lobby-firms-block-n-y-kid-rape-laws-article-1.2655010

The Catholic Conference, headed by Timothy Cardinal Dolan, has used Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker, Patricia Lynch & Associates, Hank Sheinkopf, and Mark Behan Communications to lobby against the Child Victims Act as well as for or against other measures.

All told, the conference spent more than $2.1 million on lobbying from 2007 through the end of 2015, state records show. That does not include the conference’s own internal lobbying team.

This should turn the stomach of everyone , even Catholic Church apologists.

[JNelson6563]

1. God's Work!

[Cartoonist]

2. Apologists have stomachs of iron

And when the collection plate comes around, they dig deep into their pockets, because they think they are buying tickets to Heaven. They don't care that the Jesus train is running over kids tied to the tracks.

So sayeth this proud Catholic bigot.

[yeoman6987]

4. Being a bigot is not something to be proud of

I can't even believe you say such a thing. Are you an islamiphobe? Some marry young girls and worse. Trump wants to ban them because of this and other reasons. You don't applaud him do you? All I say is be careful of the bigot tag. You can be against something and not brag about being a bigot. Bigotry is wrong no matter what.

[Cartoonist]

5. I am also a proud KKK bigot

Let me hear you defend them.

[edhopper]

6. Around here

calling out the Catholic Church as an organization that continues enables pedophiles and puts it's own welfare above the victimized children gets you labelled a bigot.

[yeoman6987]

7. Yeah but Islam saying the same thing is wrong. Hypocrite much?

[Cartoonist]

8. ?

Not sure what you are saying here. Pedophilia is wrong. Is Islam saying that?

[yeoman6987]

9. No they don't actually, but I guess we will have to agree to disagree on the Catholics

I don't think any group should be bashed. Unless we bash every group that does similar wrong doing.

[Cartoonist]

10. So you support the RCC?

Despite their shameless policies? You're willing to look the other way and instead rail against those who criticize the church?

[AtheistCrusader]

12. But... we do?

[trotsky]

13. "Similar"

Not that Islam isn't without its faults (there are plenty), but the Catholic pedophilia scandal is really unequaled. Unless you can point to a specific Islamic, Jewish, or Hindu sect with a billion adherents and a footprint on every continent that has coddled, protected, and reassigned priests who were raping children, and continues to fight victims and protect the guilty to this very day.

So can you?

[Fix The Stupid]

33. Should the 'republican' group be bashed? n/t

[AtheistCrusader]

11. You're missing historical context in this forum, and therefore confused.

Just let it go.

[trotsky]

3. Nothing new.

I'm sure someone will be along to scream at the "anti-Catholic bigots" who keep pointing out the RCC is still protecting child abusers.

[struggle4progress]

14. The headline doesn't match the article text, which says

"the conference spent more than $2.1 million on lobbying from 2007 through the end of 2015"

Poust's comment may also be important: “The Catholic Conference lobbies on many issues, from assisted suicide to farm worker rights to school choice to criminal justice reform”

In any six month period, the Catholic conference lobbies on over forty bills; it's easily available public information

[edhopper]

15. And there it is

equivocate, redirect, but never criticize.

One dollar spent on blocking a Child Victims Bill to protect their rapist priests and their coffers is too much.

[trotsky]

16. Ooh, it's hidden for me.

Must be one of the usual suspects. What's the angle this time?

[edhopper]

18. The whole two mil wasn't spent on lobbying against just this bill

You know there is abortion and Gay Rights to fight as well.

[trotsky]

21. Oh FFS.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised anymore.

[mr blur]

38. And me.

Must be a dose of the usual syrup.

[rug]

17. The NYCLU and the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers also oppose it.

Other opponents of the legislation, including the New York Civil Liberties Union and New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, took issue with the one year suspension on the statute of limitations, arguing that limitation periods are a necessary protection in the legal system. They argued that limitations periods are important because the longer the time between the alleged commission of a crime and the filing of a lawsuit, the more difficult it is to build a defense against the charges. In some cases, the person who committed the actual crime may be dead and any evidence of the crime may be long gone.

http://www.hg.org/article.asp?id=7073

They must support child rape.

[edhopper]

19. They oppose

prosecution of rapists.

[rug]

20. Surely you can show where the NYCLU said that.

[edhopper]

22. It is inferred

But please don't criticize the Church for protecting child rapist. And spending your donations to do so.

Please don't.

Equivocate and deflect like always please. please please.

[rug]

23. Yes, you did infer it.

A woefully wrong inference.

I look forward to your implication of a nefarious motive to the NYCLU because they happen to be on the same side of a religious organization. For very sound nonreligious reasons.

I'll switch my $1 weekly donation to the NYCLU this week. You in?

[edhopper]

25. I'm a card carrying member of the ACLU

as a candidate once said.

[rug]

29. Then you should appreciate the importance of the statue of limitations to anyone living in a state.

Neither the ACLU or the NYCLU are one issue organizations.

[edhopper]

31. But that's not why the Church is opposed, is it?

The NYCLU only opposes the criminal part, not the civil, which concerns the Church.

[rug]

32. Probably not.

Although as a legal entity being sued, do you think they do not have the right to defend themselves within the law?

That is an entirely different question from their morality which I'd be happy to discuss.

[edhopper]

34. What could you possibly say about

the Church you support and devote yourself to and the morality of how the have dealt with child rapists.

Your ongoing defense of them says enough.

[rug]

35. Hey, ed,

why don't you take your anti-catholic bullshit and shove it?

Or grow up.

[edhopper]

36. someone

needs a time out.

[rug]

37. Someone is unable to discuss religious belief without ad hominems and bias.

[Iggo]

24. Well, it should.

But you know it won't.

[Jackie Wilson Said]

26. Fucking religion.

[EdwardBernays]

28. Hank Sheinkopf

Is a BIG SHOT in NYC Dem circles.

Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker are big Dem donors... especially to Cuomo.

[rickford66]

30. Will this affect Notre Dame football ?