Catholic Church spent millions of dollars on major N.Y. lobbying firms to block child-sex law reform

by | Jun 3, 2016 | Child Abuse, Corruption, World News | 0 comments

Catholic Church spent millions of dollars on major N.Y. lobbying firms to block child-sex law reform

Not leaving it to divine chance, the state Catholic Conference has turned in recent years to some of Albany’s most well-connected and influential lobby firms to help block a bill that would make it easier for child sex abuse victims to seek justice.

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.

Filings show the lobbyists were retained, in part, to work on issues associated with “statute of limitations” and “timelines for commencing certain civil actions related to sex offenses.” Other issues included parochial school funding and investment tax credits.

Cardinal Dolan ripped for stalling to talk child sex abuse

“They are willing to spend limitless money in order to basically keep bad guys from being accountable for their actions,” said Melanie Blow, chief operations officer of the Stop Abuse Campaign. “I think they’re doing it because they don’t want to have to pay out settlements.”

NYC PAPERS OUT. Social media use restricted to low res file max 184 x 128 pixels and 72 dpi

Timothy Cardinal Dolan heads the state’s Catholic Conference, which in recent years hired major lobby firms to block legislation designed to help child abuse victims seek justice.

 

Added Kathryn Robb, an advocate and survivor who says she was abused by her brother as a 9-year-old: “If they need to spend that much money on lobbying, clearly, then, they have some pretty big secrets to hide.”

While a far cry from the millions in lobbying top special interests spend in Albany each year, advocates for child sex abuse survivors say the $2.1 million spent likely represents a worthwhile investment to the Catholic Conference if it can continue to block legislation that would eliminate the statute of limitations on child sex abuse civil cases and open a one-year window to bring lawsuits for victims who can no longer sue under current law.

The Catholic Conference has argued that opening a one-year window to revive old cases could ultimately bankrupt the Church.

The firms the Catholic Conference chose is also telling.

Child-abuse law reform died in 2009 Senate power struggle

NYC PAPERS OUT. Social media use restricted to low res file max 184 x 128 pixels and 72 dpi

Melanie Blow, chief operations officer of the Stop Abuse Campaign, says the Catholic Conference is paying lobby firms because they want to avoid settlements for lawsuits.

 

Wilson Elser has long been Albany’s biggest lobbying firm. The firm represented the Catholic Conference from at least 2007 through the end of 2015 and was paid more than $1 million during that time, according to online filings with the state Joint Commission on Public Ethics.

After several key people either left the firm or reduced their responsibilities, the Church did not renew the contract with Wilson Elser for 2016, sources said.

Wilson Elser, which was being paid $10,000 a month by the Catholic Conference, had no comment.

In its place, state records show, the Catholic Conference hired another prominent firm, Greenberg Traurig, which it is paying $6,000-a-month. The lobbyist from the firm representing the Church is Michael Murphy, who used to be an assistant counsel for the Senate Republicans.

Dems challenge state Senators stalling child abuse victims bill

The Senate GOP opposes the one-year “lookback” window that Democrats are calling for.

The Catholic Church, some Orthodox Jewish groups, and other private entitiesoppose legislation by Assemblywoman Margaret Markey (D-Queens) and Sen. Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan) that would eliminate the time limit that prohibits adults who were victimized as children from bringing civil cases after their 23rd birthdays.

Another top firm, Patricia Lynch & Associates, whose namesake had close ties to now disgraced Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, was hired by the Catholic Conference in 2009. Lynch’s firm for many years was ranked in the top 3 of well-paid lobbyists.

Lynch’s hiring by the Catholic Conference came after the Assembly passed different versions of the Child Victims Act four times from 2006 to 2008. The measure never came up again for a vote after Lynch was hired.

No more statute of limitations for child sex abuse, GOP: petition

NYC PAPERS OUT. Social media use restricted to low res file max 184 x 128 pixels and 72 dpi

Kathryn Robb, who was abused as a child, said the Catholic Conference is hiding something if it has to spend big money on lobby firms.

“Once Ms. Lynch lobbied for the Catholic Conference, Mr. Silver’s support for our bill ended, and the bill did not come out of the Assembly’s Codes Committee … which as speaker, he controlled,” John Aretakis, a former lawyer and an advocate for victims of clergy sex abuse, wrote in a scathing letter recently to a judge handling Silver’s recent criminal sentencing.

State lobbying records show the firm’s contract with the Catholic Conference was terminated earlier this year, not long after Lynch was outed in court papers as having had an affair with Silver.

Silver was sentenced earlier this month to 12 years in prison after his conviction on federal corruption charges.

Lynch, whose firm was being paid $7,500-a-month, would only say her contract with the Catholic Conference was ended by “mutual consent.”

LOVETT:Child Victims Act is gaining bipartisan support in Albany

Tony;

Hank Sheinkopf runs a firm hired by the church to lobby in Albany. Sheinkopf has close ties to Albany pols, including Gov. Cuomo.

Sheinkopf, meanwhile, has had close ties with Gov. Cuomo, the former leadership of the Senate Democrats when they were in control of the chamber, and even the Senate Republicans.

Like the others who were hired by the Catholic Conference, he would not discuss the specifics about what he does for the $5,000-a-month he is being paid.

 

“They like me,” he said. “They think I’m smart.”

In an email, Catholic Conference spokesman Dennis Poust wouldn’t comment directly on his organization’s lobbying efforts. He also would not comment on the reasoning behind why specific lobbying firms were chosen.

Former student claims ‘monster’ abused him in Bronx high school

Patricia Lynch's firm helped the Catholic Conference stop the Child Victims Act from becoming a law.

Patricia Lynch’s firm helped the Catholic Conference stop the Child Victims Act from becoming a law.

 

“The Catholic Conference lobbies on many issues, from assisted suicide to farm worker rights to school choice to criminal justice reform,” Poust said.

He said the conference’s lobbying activity is in full compliance with the law and is reported, as required, to the state Joint Commission on Public Ethics.

“As such it is all a matter of public record,” Poust said. “We have no further comment beyond that.”

Source: www.nydailynews.com

Ceribalius

Ceribalius

Ceribalius is a pseudonym used by one of our writers, he/she is a digtial nomad and dedicated fighter of freedom and liberty. If there is something that needs saying which no one else is, he/she is the one to do it.
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Facebook Outage – Information Blackout Or Technical Catastrophe?

Facebook and its other sister applications, Instagram and WhatsApp, have been down for the best part of the day. It took some time for Facebook...

More Vaccine Propaganda From The BBC & Van-Tam

When things are looking down and it looks like maybe things are not going to go your way, what do you? Well, if you are a psychopath you simply...

Two of the Fully ‘Vaccinated Female West Indies Cricket Team’ Collapse

In yet another 'One in a Million' or 'Coincidental' event, two recently vaccinated players of the west indies cricket team have collapsed...

Detroit Pays $50 To Anyone Who Convinces Someone To Get The COVID-19 Vaccine

In what is ironically being called the 'Good Neighbour' Programme, citizens of Detroit can earn $50 if they can convince another to take the...

Nearly 40% Of Marines Have Declined Covid-19 Vaccine

Nearly 40% of US Marines are declining Covid-19 vaccinations, according to data provided to CNN on Friday by the service, the first branch to...

3 Vaccinated Nuns In Isolation Die Of ‘Covid-19’

Three sisters of the Northern Kentucky monastery have died and 28 of the 35 remaining sisters test positive for COVID-19 following vaccination....

New “Behaviour Hub” Indoctrination Programme To Increase Conformity In Children

The Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson says lockdown has impacted on children's "discipline and order" and wants schools to...

Epidemic Of Unreported Child Abuse In Plain Sight

The ongoing so-called 'pandemic' has hit everyone hard, no one has escaped the grip of the tyrannical reaction from Governments around the...

Tanzania’s President Magufuli Dies, The Covid Cult Rub Their Hands in Glee

President John Magufuli of Tanzania, a prominent populist and covid-19 skeptic in Africa, has died. He was 61 years old. Magufuli’s death was...

Pfizer Vaccine More Deadly Than The Virus In Young People

In a shocking new piece of research by Aix-Marseille University Faculty of Medicine Emerging Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit's Dr. Hervé...

Stay Connected - Subscribe Today

Thank you for subscribing!

Pin It on Pinterest