BALTIMORE (MD)
SNAP - Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests [Chicago IL]
March 31, 2023
By Zach Hiner
We salute the Maryland legislators who approved the passage of the Child Victims Act (CVA) into the Senate. The outdated legislation will undergo much-needed reform as a result of the CVA’s approval. We are very appreciative of Delegate C.T. Wilson for standing up for this truth and prioritizing the needs of the victims. Without the committed survivors and advocates who have worked so hard to create this opportunity for reform, none of this would be possible. We are hoping for a speedy Senate agreement to make this legislation a reality for the victims who have long carried the burden. A Senate companion bill has also been introduced by Sen. William C. Smith Jr.
We know that window legislation is an important step in recognizing the realities of childhood sexual abuse and that delayed disclosure is the norm, not the exception. Amending laws to be more in line with reporting trends allows more survivors to seek justice. This helps to prevent future cases of abuse by getting information about perpetrators and enablers into the hands of the police.
Every time a survivor comes forward to share their story, society becomes a little bit safer. We are aware of the threat posed to the communities they live in by the fact that many abusers are still alive and going unreported. The Child Victims Act of 2023 will help to address this problem by allowing survivors to speak out and encouraging safer, better-informed communities.
CONTACT: Mike McDonnell, SNAP Communications (mmcdonnell@snapnetwork.org, 267-261-0578) David Lorenz, SNAP Maryland leader (glydonct@gmail.com, 301-906-9161), Becky Ianni, Virginia and DC SNAP leader (SNAPvirginia@cox.net, (703) 801-6044) Zach Hiner, Executive Director (zhiner@snapnetwork.org, 517-974-9009) Shaun Dougherty, SNAP Board President (sdougherty@snapnetwork.org, 814-341-8386)
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)