UPDATE: HB 858, a bill that would have caused serious harm to the Church by extending and suspending the civil statute of limitations for child sexual abuse, has been withdrawn by its sponsor. There is no criminal statute of limitations on felonies in Maryland; child abusers can be criminally prosecuted and convicted here until the day they die.

Del. Eric Bromwell, after hearing from Catholics around the state who were concerned about HB 858's impact on their parishes and schools, has withdrawn the bill. That means it is no longer being considered by the Maryland General Assembly.

Please take a moment to thank Del. Bromwell for his leadership in withdrawing HB 858 by clicking here to send him a message.

The Catholic Church in Maryland is committed to assisting victims and protecting children. The dioceses have dedicated about $13 million to counseling and other assistance to victims and their families. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent on child protection efforts. These include awareness training and mandatory background checks for employees and volunteers. To learn more, please select one of the resources below.