The clock is ticking for justice for victims of childhood sexual abuse

In Pennsylvania, the clock is ticking.

Last week the state Senate delivered justice for some victims.

They passed crucial legislation that will protect the lives of domestic abuse victims.

Now it's time they do the same for victims of childhood sexual abuse.

The Senate has precious few days to take up legislation that would eliminate the statute of limitations for criminal for criminal charges in child sex abuse cases, as well as expand the window for victims to bring suit.

But the bill also would do something else, something that the Senate has opposed in the past, and is vehemently opposed by the Catholic church and the insurance industry.

It would open a two-year window for victims of abuse as children to file civil actions retroactively.

Foes in the Senate have raised questions about whether the measure would be constitutional. Instead they support a move pushed by the church to create an independent victims compensation fund handled by a third party.

We took a stand in favor of the two-year window on Sunday's editorial page.

That puts us at odds with Philadelphia Archbishop, who penned a letter read at all Masses in the archdiocese urging the faithful to contact their legislators to oppose the measure.

You can read the archbishop's reasoning here.

In the meantime, two Delaware County senators, Sen. Tom Killion, R-9 of Middletown, and Sen. Tom McGarrigle, R-26 of Springfield, both have indicated they would support the measure.

Now it's a question of whether the measure will ever be brought up for a vote by the full Senate.

We'll be keeping tabs on it.

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