Here's maybe the least surprising news of the week.
Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput is not a big fan of legislation being debated in Harrisburg to open a two-year window for past victims of childhood sex abuse to file civil suits against their oppressors.
He said so in a guest column that appears on today's op-ed page.
He also spelled out his position in a letter read at all Masses in the archdiocese this past weekend in which he urged parishioners and Catholics to oppose the plan, to contract their representatives and urge them to vote against the bill.
Chaput stressed the move could prove financially disastrous to the church, while also hurting services to the faithful, including the possibility of more parish or school closings.
We had our say on our editorial page Sunday, supporting the measure that has already been passed by the Pa. House and is set to be debated this week in the Senate.
Every member of the Delco House delegation voted in favor, with the exception of Rep. Greg Vitali, D-166 of Haverford, who voted against.
The bill would eliminate the statute of limitations to bring criminal charges in child sex abuse cases. It also would extend the window for victims to file suit from the current age of 30, to age 50.
But both of these changes would affect only future cases, not those victimized in the past. That is why Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, himself a victim of sex abuse at the hands of Catholic priest as a youth, added the amendment that would open the window for past victims to file retroactive actions.
It's now in the hands of the state Senate.
All of this comes in the wake of the latest damning grand jury report that details the horrific actions of more than 300 priests in six Pa. dioceses who victimized more then 1,000 children over six-plus decades. Even worse, it again detailed the vile actions of church leaders to cover it all up, protecting the church, often at the expense of children.
A similar plan passed the House once before, before being stalled in the Senate, as questions were raised about whether it would actually pass constitutional muster.
Chaput and some leaders in the state Senate instead support an idea put forth by the church to establish a victims' compensation fund, which would be administered by a third party.
There also is concern on the part of some senators, including Delco Sen. Tom McGarrigle, R-26 of Springfield, that the measure be applied in the same way to both private and public institutions.
We'll let you know how - or if - the Senate takes action this week.
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