A new law in California is giving childhood victims of sexual abuse more time to file lawsuits. On this episode of Inside the Issues, we look at the impact it's having on not only victims, but the Roman Catholic Church.

Ian Lovett, a National Religion Reporter for the Wall Street Journal, talks about the stories that brought this issue to light and how the Catholic Church has responded to the problem.

Lovett also talks about the role that former Archbishop Cardinal Roger Mahony played in the cover-up of abuse allegations. In a statement from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the church said Cardinal Mahony “…was not removed in any capacity from ministry.”

After learning of the cover-ups, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez did remove him from administrative and public duties. Mahony is now retired and remains “in good standing” according to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Heather Banis, Victims Assistance Ministry Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, expands on the church’s response and outlines the actions being taken to ensure something like this doesn’t happen again.

Last year, the California Catholic Conference announced six dioceses including Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Orange, were creating an Independent Compensation Program, or ICP, to provide compensation to victim-survivors of clergy abuse. Former Governor Gray Davis helps oversee the Independent Compensation Program for the church. He talks about why he became involved with the program.

Three victim-survivors, Esther Hatfield, Southern California Volunteer Leader for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, and a Certified Trauma Recovery Coach, Joelle Casteix, a victim advocate, speaker, and author, and Tom Emens, who is in the process of filing a lawsuit under the new law, talk about their experiences, how they are working to heal and why they decided to leave the Church.

Jeff Anderson, Founder of Jeff Anderson and Associates, has been trying cases of childhood sex abuse perpetrated by people in positions of power for 37 years. He talks about how many cases he expects to see with the statute of limitations lifted and why some victims choose a lawsuit.

Spectrum News 1 reporter Sarina Sandoval talks to a young college student who shares how she keeps her faith in a religion plagued by this scandal.

Let Inside the Issues know your thoughts and watch Monday through Friday at 8 and 11 p.m. on Spectrum News 1.