Archdiocese of Philadelphia goes on the offensive against statute of limitations legislation

PENNSYLVANIA
Lancaster Online

EARLE CORNELIUS | Staff Writer

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is taking direct aim at statute of limitations legislation now before the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

In April the state House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved House Bill 1947 which would extend the age at which victims of sexual abuse could sue from 30 to 50.

The reform measures would also retroactively raise the age at which victims of past child sexual abuse can bring civil action against their abusers. Under current law, a victim who was sexually abused under the age of 18 has until age 30 to file a lawsuit. The House-approved legislation would raise that age to 50 .

The Philadelphia archdiocese, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, insurers and other organizations oppose the legislation.

This Friday, the archdiocese is holding an information session at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood to discuss what it calls the “potential risks” associated with House Bill 1947.

The archdiocese also is filming a commercial intended to educate the public about those risks.

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