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Berks lawmaker taking clergy sex abuse fight to pope's door

69 News
February 19, 2019

https://bit.ly/2InevgJ

Pope Francis at the Vatican

Pa. Rep. Mark Rozzi, a Berks County Democrat and a survivor of clergy sex abuse

St. Peter's Basilica

Mark Rozzi traveling to Rome for Vatican summit

From the halls of Harrisburg to the headquarters of the Catholic church, a state lawmaker from Berks County is taking his fight for clergy sex abuse survivors to the pope's doorstep.

Pennsylvania Rep. Mark Rozzi will be at the Vatican as Pope Francis convenes a summit Thursday with church leaders from around the world. Their focus will be on preventing clergy sex abuse.

"The Catholic church," Rozzi said, "has an opportunity here to lead and be an example for the world and other institutions to follow, that maybe we can really take a bite out of child sexual abuse and start protecting our children."

Rozzi, a survivor himself of clergy sex abuse, said his mission of traveling to the Vatican is two-fold.

First, he said he wants the church to stop blocking legislation such as his that would reform the statute of limitations and allow child sex abuse victims to sue the perpetrators and the institutions that may have covered up their crimes.

"We just want victims to have the opportunity to be able to find truth and justice and start the healing process," Rozzi told 69 News on Tuesday.

The other reason for his visit, he said, is to seek zero-tolerance by the church when it comes to abuse.

"We want to make sure that the policies they put in place this weekend protect children, but at the same time, we want to hold bishops accountable," Rozzi said.

While he's still unsure whether he'll be granted an audience with the pope, Rozzi said he wants to make sure his voice and that of other survivors is heard by those in a position of power.

"We're going to be going to the doorstep of the Vatican and we're going to be banging on it and say, 'You better hear us now,' and we want the world to hear us," Rozzi said.

Ahead of the summit, one of the first items on Rozzi's schedule after he arrives in Rome will be a meeting with members of the Italian parliament and representatives of various groups from around the world, including the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), End Clergy Abuse (ECA), and Bishop Accountability.

"For the first time, we're able to coordinate this meeting, bring all these groups together and find out what is important for survivors and victims and how we're going to protect these children moving forward," Rozzi said.

The Berks County Democrat said he is also among a small group of survivors scheduled to meet on Friday with Callista Gingrich, the United States' ambassador to the Holy See.

He also plans to participate in a march involving child sex abuse survivors and victims' groups on Saturday.

Contact: news@wfmz.com




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