Catholic Church, private schools lobby against California childhood sex abuse bill

LOS ANGELES – Making its way through the California State Legislature is a bill seeking to give more alleged child abuse victims time to sue.

If passed, the bill would permit victims unable to file a lawsuit due to time or age restrictions the chance to confront their abuser's employer.

The Catholic Church did not fight a similar 2002 bill that opened the flood gates for hundreds of alleged victims.

This time, however, the church is battling hard against the proposed legislation and calling it a step backward.

The Los Angeles archdiocese and other private groups say they have been unfairly targeted because the bill does not apply to public schools.

Advocates say it allows abuse victims who were unable to come forward to finally seek justice.