PENNSYLVANIA
Lancaster Online
Editorial
THE ISSUE
The state House voted 180-15 on Tuesday in favor of House Bill 1947, which would abolish the statute of limitations for future criminal cases of child sexual abuse, and extend the time by 20 years for victims to bring civil suits against their assailants and an agency whose negligence enabled the abuse. The bill would give victims until they turned 50 to bring civil cases, and it would be retroactive, so victims now between the ages of 30 and 50 could bring civil suits. It was opposed by the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference and the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania. It now may be referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The days aren’t always good for victims of childhood sexual abuse. Some days, some hours or moments, are clouded by trauma; some are occupied with the ongoing struggle to overcome shame and sorrow.
But Tuesday was a good day for many victims of child sexual abuse — a good and hopeful day.
Statute of limitations reform had been held up for years in the House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Dauphin County Republican Rep. Ron Marsico.
Then, on March 1, state Attorney General Kathleen Kane unveiled an investigative grand jury report that said hundreds of children in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown had been sexually abused by at least 50 priests or religious leaders over at least 40 years, and two bishops had covered up the abuse.
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