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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 27 november 2019

Pennsylvania overhauls child sexual abuse laws

Associated Press Mark Rozzi, a champion of
READING, Pa. (AP) — Penn- the legislation who has spo-
sylvania overhauled its ken publicly about being
child sexual abuse laws raped as a 13-year-old by
Tuesday, more than a year a Roman Catholic priest.
after a landmark grand jury "We know our work is not
report showed the cover- done today, it's going to
up of hundreds of cases of continue," Rozzi said.
abuse in most of Pennsylva- The grand jury report
nia's Roman Catholic dio- prompted a lengthy battle
ceses over seven decades. in the Legislature that pit-
The central bill signed by ted victims and their advo-
Gov. Tom Wolf gives future cates who unsuccessfully
victims of child sex abuse sought the two-year win-
more time to file lawsuits dow to file claims over past
and ends time limits for po- abuse against top Senate
lice to file criminal charges. Republicans, who argued it
The grand jury report would be unconstitutional.
spurred many states to Senate Republicans, how-
change their laws and oth- ever, blocked it amid op- Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, center, signs legislation into law at Muhlenberg High School in Read-
ers to begin similar investi- position by bishops and ing, Pa., Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019.
gations. insurers, and as an alterna- Associated Press
Wolf said the new laws will tive offered the slower pro-
help repair "faults in our cess of amending the state had died. to sue, where existing law adults 18-23 years old are
justice system that prevent constitution. Wolf and Shapiro urged gives them just two years. the victims, as opposed to
frightened, abused chil- The multi-year amendment lawmakers to take up legis- Police could file criminal 12 years after the crime for
dren from seeking justice process has begun, but the lation to allow the two-year charges up to 20 years af- victims over 17 in current
when they grow into cou- bill must again pass both window for lawsuits rather ter the crime when young law.q
rageous adults." the House and Senate in than wait for the amend-
The legislative package the 2021-22 legislative ses- ment process to play out.
was based on recommen- sion before voters will de- "By waiting, we are robbing
dations in last year's report cide its fate in a statewide the very victims who made
on six of eight dioceses in referendum. this day possible, we are
the state. Pennsylvania Attorney robbing them of the only
Wolf, a Democrat, also General Josh Shapiro, a closure before them," Sha-
signed bills to invalidate Democrat, said the elimi- piro said.
secrecy agreements that nated time limits meant The main bill in the pack-
keep child sexual abuse prosecutors could file age ends any statute of
victims from talking to in- charges against only two limitations, in future cases,
vestigators, and to increase priests after the report was for criminal prosecution of
penalties for people who issued. He said that if the major child sexual abuse
are required to report sus- new legislation had ap- crimes. Current law limits
pected abuse but fail to do plied, some 100 priests it to the victim's 50th birth-
so. could have been charged. day.
Wolf signed the bills at The report put the number Victims would have until
Muhlenberg High School of abusive clergy at more they turn 55 to sue, com-
near Reading, in the home than 300, with most cases pared to age 30 in current
district and high school between 1970 and 2000. law. Young adults ages 18-
of Democratic state Rep. More than 100 of the priests 23 would have until age 30