A Michigan bill inspired by the Larry Nassar scandal that would retroactively extend the amount of time child victims of sexual abuse have to sue their abusers is drawing concerns from the Catholic Church, which has paid out billions of dollars to settle U.S. clergy abuse cases. Currently, people who are sexually abused as children in Michigan generally have until their 19th birthdays to sue. Past bills to give victims more access to the legal system have stalled in Michigan, partly because of opposition from the Catholic Conference. The Nassar scandal could lead to change, however, as both Republicans and Democrats are backing the new bills. It is unknown how many victims of sexual abuse would benefit from the measure, or the potential financial implications for the Catholic Church.

Source: ABC News February 27, 2018 18:51 UTC