Berks Lawmaker Seeks Stronger Child Sex Abuse Lawsuits Bill

WFMZ
September 27, 2016

http://www.wfmz.com/news/news-regional-berks/Berks-lawmaker-seeks-stronger-child-sex-abuse-lawsuits-bill/41848554


A Pennsylvania lawmaker who has told of his victimization as a child by a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Allentown said he'll keep fighting for legislation to allow onetime-child sexual abuse victims to sue for damages. "I hear my story with every story told to me," said Rep. Mark Rozzi, a Berks County Democrat. "We, our families and friends, have been gravely wronged by these predators and those institutions that will do anything to protect their reputations and coffers." Rozzi said Tuesday that he isn't dissuaded by the Senate's rejection of the provision. The House approved the provision overwhelmingly in April. It would revive the ability of people to sue for damages if they're now older than the current legal age limit of 30 to sue.

"When I ran for this office, I was on a personal mission to shake open the log jam that I faced when looking for justice," Rozzi said. "I didn't realize the magnitude of this epidemic until, as a state representative, my office started receiving letters, emails, phone calls and personal visits from victims from every corner of the state and beyond." The Senate blocked it in June amid concerns that it's unconstitutional and opposition by the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference and insurers. "Any question about constitutionality should be left to the courts," Rozzi said. The provision has been hotly debated, particularly with prosecutors in Pennsylvania uncovering a long-running scandal in the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese and states increasingly providing that window to victims who are now older. "Following the flood of hotline calls received in the aftermath of the grand jury report, Attorney General [Bruce] Beemer has announced that a statewide grand jury is investigating allegations of child sex abuse in the remaining six Roman Catholic dioceses," said Rozzi, who revealed to 69 News last week that he testified before the grand jury about his own experience with a priest in the Diocese of Allentown, which covers the five-county region of Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and Schuylkill. "There is no good excuse to hide behind. Do we really need another grand jury report to tell us more unimaginable horror stories to do the right thing? I think not," Rozzi concluded. "Let’s do it right. Victims have waited long enough."