JOHNSTOWN – On Monday, Bishop Mark Bartchak of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown announced sweeping changes in the Catholic church to protect victims of child sex abuse.

Victims of abuse by clergy are reacting to news of those reforms, including one victim, originally from Johnstown, who said he was abused as a child.

Shaun Dougherty said that Monday's news conference was a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done in Harrisburg at the state capitol to pass an actual law.

Dougherty said he was surprised by the announcement, but happy to see it.

"It was the first big step for the church in moving forward,” Dougherty said. “I think it was a crucial first step for future generations of victims."

He says it's a big step, but added, “It’s just a memorandum. It's not a law. There's nothing binding them to this. The law is the necessary second step for the church."

Dougherty wants to see the bishop support state representative Mark Rozzi's new legislation to give past victims their opportunity for help, and the ability to speak out through court systems.

"Find out who active predators are right now, and who the active people are, willing to cover it up, to protect today's children from being abused,” Dougherty said.

Because, he said, without the retroactive portion of the bill, "all the Senate bill does is enables future victims to seek justice 30, 40 years from now,” Dougherty said. “It doesn't really do anything to the people we know are predators."

Last week, members of the Survivor’s Network of Those Abused by Priests, also known as SNAP, led a protest outside the diocese's administration center.

Monday, leaders of the group said it's a step in the right direction, but only a small step.

Dougherty also questioned the motive for Monday’s news conference, with Bartchak finally speaking up.

"Is he out in front of it because he's out in front of it, or is he out in front of it because the attorney general's report was out in front of it?” Dougherty asked. “A law protects my rights. The law protects children. The law protects victims. A memorandum just is a promise."

While Bartchak said he and the church will be open to the public about these matters, Dougherty said he will continue to lobby the state legislature for concrete change,and he wants Bartchak to be on board, too.