Clarification in PC(USA) Missions Abuse Case

Judge Irv Maze of the Jefferson County Circuit Court has clarified his ruling against a man who attempted to sue the PC(USA) for abuse committed at a boarding house for mission work in the Congo. The alleged abuse took place in 1988, when the victim was 14. Under Kentucky law, the victim would have needed to sue by 1993, a year after the victim's 18th birthday, for the case to be heard. The victim's attorneys had attempted to establish that the church knew about the abuse and covered it up in order to extend the statute of limitations on the case, but the attempt failed. The PC(USA) apparently admitted in October of 2010 that the alleged attacker had previously abused another person, but was allowed to remain in the boarding house. An appeal is being considered. [The Courier Journal]