Former residents of a defunct Indian orphanage in South Dakota called for the repeal of a new state law that limits abuse lawsuits.

Under the law, which went into effect on July 1, victims older than 40 can only sue the individuals who committed the abuse. Organizations, schools and churches cannot be sued.

"There is a long, long history of rampant sexual, physical and emotional abuse of Native American children at boarding schools run by the Catholic Church," Joelle Casteix of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests said at a press conference, The Sioux Falls Argus Leader reported.

Two dozen former residents of the Tekakwitha Orphanage for Native Americans filed a lawsuit alleging widespread abuse.

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