Pa. Senate Leaves Capitol without Vote on Clergy Abuse Bill; AG Says GOP "Just Decided to Quit"

By Liz Navratil and Angela Couloumbis
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
October 18, 2018

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2018/10/17/pennsylvania-clergy-church-priests-abuse-bill-lawsuits-statute-limitations-senate-vote/stories/201810160181

After a marathon day of negotiations, Republican leaders in the state Senate failed to push through a compromise on an emotionally charged bill aimed at helping older victims of clergy abuse gain the right to sue, leaving its fate in limbo as they wrapped up the last voting day of the legislative season.

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, said at a press conference shortly after 11 p.m. that he had tried to gather support for a plan that he believed would help victims seek justice, but that no one would meet him half way.

His plan would have allowed for a temporary reprieve in the statute of limitations so older victims could sue their attackers — but not the institutions, such as the Catholic Church, that may have covered up the abuse.

"We are at a standstill," he said.