Hear that ticking sound?
That's the sound of time running out to deliver justice for the victims of childhood sexual abuse.
The Pennsylvania Senate has just three working sessions left to take up House Bill 261. That is the measure the would eliminate the statute of limitations to file criminal charges in sex abuse cases, as well as expanding the window for victims of old cases to file civil actions against their abusers.
But that is only for future cases, should the bill become law.
That is why Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, himself a victim of childhood abuse at the hands of a Catholic priest, added an amendment that would open a two-year window for victims of decades-old abuse to file suit. It passed the House and now is in the hands of the Senate.
It is being opposed by Republican leaders in the Senate, the Catholic Church and the insurance industry.
Instead it appears those groups continue to push for a victims compensation fund set up by the church and administered by a third party.
Rozzi and other victims groups have mocked the effort.
I talk about this crucial issue in today's print column, my weekly Letter From the Editor.
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