Maybe it’s just a lack of understanding of the political process. Maybe it’s just ignorance. Either way, what the Catholic Church did to Julie Lassa, the state legislator, can be neither forgiven nor excused. Lassa, it seems, is doing her part by making church leaders pay for their sins.

State Senator Julie Lassa is one of those pro-choice democrats who was also Catholic. An Archbishop on a mission, then-Archbishop Burke, decided to make an example out of her and denied her communion and also denied her ability to have her child baptized in the church.

What a bone-headed move.

To scorn an individual is one thing. To scorn their child is heartless and cruel. Burke not only turned his back on Lassa, he turned his back on an infant who bore no blame for the disagreement that Burke had with Lassa.

Lassa is seeking revenge.

Now she has a bill before the legislature to virtually eliminate the whole statutes of limitations on lawsuits. This would have a devastating effect on the archdioces since many sex scandal victims of the Catholic Church cannot file claims because it is way beyond the statues of limitation. Lassa wants to eliminate those statutes which would open up the church to lawsuits which in turn could bankrupt the archdioces.

The Journal-Sentinel belives it’s a great thing and they want to be a part of it. Their recent editorial suggested that the bill was a good thing and the only redress for victims of sexual abuse by clergy. They fail to address all of the good that the church does as though this bill would somehow make it possible for victims to gain closure. But that’s simply not true. Victims would get money from the church which doesn’t amount to closure – it just amounts to taking away funds from an organization whose clothing the poor and feeding the hungry.

It seems as though the Journal-Sentinel isn’t looking at the big picture here. If the Catholic Church has to deal with more lawsuits, it would likely go bankrupt and calls for the church to help the poor will go unanswered. Those that have no means cannot offer help. If you strip away the archdioces means, they will be unable to come to the aid of those who so desperately rely upon them.

Lassa has also been a victim here though. Because she is pro-choice, she and her child were singled out as not being eligible for the benefits of the sacriments. How out of touch did the church have to be? Did they just think that there actions would never have ramifications? Apparently Burke forgot that Jesus was both a forgiving and understanding man — both traits that then Archbishop Burked lacked.

None of this is to excuse what happened with the sexual abuse scandal that wracked the archdioces. But Lassa’s bill will do little to soothe the hearts of those who were wronged. Lassa’s bill does little but offer her the ability to retaliate against a church that has turned its back against her and her child. The catholic church preaches about extending compassion to others but denied that compassion to Lassa and after the way they treated her, she’s not about to turn the other cheek.