State lawmakers held a hearing to discuss sexual abuse by clergy and by others in position of power. Several lawmakers say they want to determine if the state's criminal laws are strong enough to prosecute people who molest children, in particular priests who are accused of molesting parishioners.

	Ted Kramer, left, Beverly Peterson, center, and Scott Trobec testify at the Capitol on Wednesday about their abuse. Kramer and Peterson say they were abused by priests. Trobec told the panel he was abused by an uncle. Listen to their testimony. (MPR Photo/Tom Scheck)

Ted Kramer says he was sexually abused by his parish priest when he was 10 years old. Kramer, of Forest Lake, says he was an altar boy who went on a church retreat with his priest in 1977.

"Unfortunately in my case, it wasn't that pleasant of a trip. However this individual took me to a cabin in Wisconsin and sexually abused me for a weekend and then I pretty much blocked it out," he told the panel.

Kramer says he came forward with his allegations of abuse when he was 16 and confronted the archdiocese. Kramer and his parents were told that the church would discipline the priest. Kramer says as far he knows, that never happened.

Two others who were sexually abused as children told the committee that they blocked out their problems for years. They said it took them until they reached their 30s and 40s before they could talk about it.

Beverly Peterson, of St. Paul, says she was abused by a visiting priest when she was 12. She said she was always fearful of coming forward with allegations.

"I didn't come forward and disclose until about eight weeks ago. During the course of my sexual abuse, the priest told me not only would I go to hell but I would be struck dead if I ever disclosed it to anybody," she said.

Under Minnesota law, Peterson and others who suffered abuse before 1984 cannot press criminal charges or sue because the statute of limitations has run out. Prosecutors say the law has been strengthened and has become more flexible over the years, but can do nothing for people who were abused before 1984.

Rep. John Tuma, R-Northfield, says he held the hearings to help lawmakers understand why sexual abuse in the Catholic Church was not being prosecuted fully. Tuma, who's retiring this year, said the hearing was to gather information about Minnesota's laws on sexual abuse.

"The question that seemed obvious to me as chair of the Crime Committee is why are some of these guys in position of authority are sitting in retreat centers and not in prisons? And the victims are minors, Are there problems in state law and we really want to get information about these types of cases where the victims a minor and the person is in a position of authority?" Tuma said.

Current law says prosecutors have three years from the time they're notified to file criminal charges of sexual abuse. Officials with several abuse organizations say they'd like to give prosecutors an unlimited amount of time to bring criminal charges. They also say they'd like to increase the statute of limitations so victims have a longer period to sue for civil damages. The law says victims lose their right to sue after the they turn 25.

Tuma and others tried to extend the time victims can sue for sexual abuse during the last legislative session, but their measure was defeated. Supporters say they'll bring forward the legislation in the upcoming session.

Dan Connolly with the Minnesota Religious Council says his organization fully supports criminal prosecution of anyone who engages in sexual abuse. However, he says he's opposed to extending the statute of limitations on civil cases. He says church organizations and other groups may be held accountable even if they didn't know the abuse was occurring.

"These are funds, in the church setting that are taken away from all of the good ministry services that the churches do, even when there hasn't been a showing of actual knowledge by that organization. Similarly in the school context, if you have a big award against a school district, that means that the children of today are not going to be educated based upon some conduct or lack of conduct that occurred 30 years ago," he said.

Connolly says his organization is willing to work with lawmakers who want to extend the statute of limitations only if the group -- not an individual -- shows it was a part of sexual abuse.

St. John's scandal shows need for legal reform, abuse victims say (5/14/02)