Now let us continue to go forward...

I was pleased to see that attorney William McMurry who has made a living pursuing sexual abuse charges against priests has decided to drop his lawsuit against the Vatican and the Pope. I acknowledge that Mr. McMurry has helped bring a modicum of justice to some legitimate victims but have felt that he was over zealous at times in his quest for clients.
Now that we are saved the distraction of this particular law suit, there is an opportunity to increase the efforts we are putting forth in seeking assistance for victims and in assuring that policies and procedures are in effect at each of our parishes and schools to prevent future instances of abuse.
The problem of child sexual abuse is a societal problem and not merely a Catholic issue. I am proud of the steps that have been taken by dioceses across the nation in recent years to educate people about the issue of sexual abuse, to provide them with the tools to become more effective protectors of children and to assure the safety of children in our churches and schools. We now have a chance to step up those efforts and provide a model for public schools and institutions whose issues with the same problem has long been ignored.

Protect pedophiles, but not pregnant women?

I'm sure I must be missing some subtle nuance here, but last week a congressional committee blocked an amendment to the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HR 1913) which would have broadened the protected classes under the bill to include pregnant women.
The same committee then blocked an amendment which would have defined "sexual orientation" under the protected classes in such a way as to specifically exclude pedophilia. (committee vote here)
So the end result is that the committee determined that pedophiles should be protected under hate crimes law, but expectant mothers should not.
You can't make this stuff up!
Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made. Otto von Bismarck