Berks lawmaker seeks stronger child sex abuse lawsuits bill

PENNSYLVANIA
WFMZ

HARRISBURG, Pa. – A Pennsylvania lawmaker who has told of his victimization as a child by a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Allentown said he’ll keep fighting for legislation to allow onetime-child sexual abuse victims to sue for damages. “I hear my story with every story told to me,” said Rep. Mark Rozzi, a Berks County Democrat.

“We, our families and friends, have been gravely wronged by these predators and those institutions that will do anything to protect their reputations and coffers.” Rozzi said Tuesday that he isn’t dissuaded by the Senate’s rejection of the provision. The House approved the provision overwhelmingly in April. It would revive the ability of people to sue for damages if they’re now older than the current legal age limit of 30 to sue.

“When I ran for this office, I was on a personal mission to shake open the log jam that I faced when looking for justice,” Rozzi said. “I didn’t realize the magnitude of this epidemic until, as a state representative, my office started receiving letters, emails, phone calls and personal visits from victims from every corner of the state and beyond.”

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