When it comes to that two-year window for victims of past sexual abuse to file suit against their molesters, at least one state senator just can't win.
Senate Bill 261 would change state law to eliminate the statute of limitations for criminal charges in cases of childhood sexual abuse, and also expand the period for victims to file civil actions. But that would only apply to future cases. That's why Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, himself a victim of abuse as a child by his parish priest, added an amendment that would open a two-year window for past victims to file suits retroactively.
It was one of the recommendations made by the latest state grand jury probe into abuse by Catholic priests, which uncovered damning evidence of more than 300 priests who abused more than 1,000 children for decades in six Catholic dioceses. It also made clear, once again, that church officials endorsed policies and a cover-up meant to protect the church, not necessarily help the victims.
The bill passed overwhelmingly in the House.
But it faced problems in the Senate.
Not from McGarrigle.
The Springfield Republican from the 26th District, along with state Sen. Tom Killion, both indicated they would support the measure.
That put them at odds with their own party leaders, including Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, who opposed the measure.
The two-year window also drew intense opposition from the Catholic church and the insurance industry.
Scarnati and church officials first pushed a plan that would allow the church to set up a victims compensation fund to be operated by a third party. Finally, Scarnati suggested a compromise that would allow victims to sue individual priests or attackers, but not the church hierarchy.
Both plans were mocked by victims and advocacy groups.
So the Senate did nothing.
Both McGarrigle and Killion issues statements fiercely critical of the failure to bring the measure to a vote.
That apparently was not enough.
McGarrigle is running for re-election.
Now he's being lumped in with a group of other suburban GOP senators facing tough re-election bids in an ad blasting the Senate for not taking action on the bill.
In short, McGarrigle is being ripped for something that he actually supported.
Dems say that is not enough. They believe McGarrigle should specifically denounce Senate GOP leaders.
That's not likely to happen.
What will happen later today is that McGarrigle, Killion and others will stand with abuse victims to again announce his support for the measure.
We'll be there to cover it.
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