(The following statement was issued on April 2, 2025 by the Maryland Catholic Conference, the official public policy entity for the Catholic Church in Maryland, including the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington and the Diocese of Wilmington.)
In 2023, Maryland lawmakers passed the Child Victims Act (CVA), pledging to give all survivors of child sexual abuse an opportunity for justice.
That pledge did not last long. Since the CVA went into effect 18 months ago, thousands of claims have been made against the State of Maryland for child sexual abuse by State workers. In fact, the Maryland state government now appears to be the largest employer of child sex abusers in the State.
The response from lawmakers has not focused on understanding how this could have occurred, ensuring rigorous safeguarding, or prioritizing victim-focused support. Rather, the legislature’s response has been focused on how to limit the State’s financial liability and accountability to victim-survivors.
HB 1378 reinforces a system where justice depends not on the harm suffered, but on where the abuse occurred.
Under the bill, with amendments slipped in at the end of a Judiciary Committee voting session on Tuesday, victims of abuse in State settings, such as the Department of Juvenile Services, would face a damage cap of $400,000 starting June 1, 2025. The cap for private institutions would be $700,000. This unequitable treatment is both unjust to victims and unfair to private and nonprofit organizations.
Even worse is rushing through a bill of this magnitude that impacts the rights of survivors and the responsibilities of institutions, in the final days of the legislative session, with little time for careful debate or necessary revisions. This undermines trust in the legislative process and denies survivors the consideration they deserve.
Two years ago legislators committed to providing equal treatment for all victims. HB 1378 betrays that promise. We urge lawmakers to reject this inequitable approach and stand for true justice.
