Child Victims Act

Some people abused as children by clergy in the Syracuse Roman Catholic Diocese, which includes Binghamton and Cortland, must decide by Wednesday whether to participate in the diocese's compensation program, or wait to see if state lawmakers pass a bill that would extend the statute of limitations, so they could sue later.

A bill that would extend the statute of limitations for victims of child sexual abuse was not part of the New York State budget approved this month.

The Diocese of Syracuse just started a program to compensate people who were abused by clergy when they were kids. Right now, it's only open to cases the diocese knows about already. However, other dioceses in New York with similar programs eventually opened them up to new allegations. Syracuse isn't sure if it will.