You know that boulder that victims of childhood sexual abuse of pushing up a mountain in Harrisburg?
It just rolled back down to the bottom of the hill.
That's because, as feared, our fearless state senators have left town without taking any action on a bill that would open a two-year window for victims of childhood abuse from decades ago to file suit against their tormentors.
It was part of a package passed by the House that would eliminate the statute of limitations for criminal charges in such cases, as well as expanding the window for victims to file civil suits.
But only in future cases.
There was no justice for those victimized decades ago.
That's why Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, himself a victim of abuse at the hands of his parish priest as a youth, added an amendment to allow that two-year window.
It passed the House; and it died in the Senate.
In fact, it never made it to the floor for a vote for the full Senate.
Don't blame our local senators. Both Sen. Tom Killion, R-9 of Middletown, and Tom McGarrigle, R-26 of Springfield, indicated they would support the measure and expressed their frustration that it was not put to a vote.
“It’s unfortunate for the victims of these devastating abuses that a consensus was not reached to provide justice," McGarrigle said. "I said I would vote for a two-year window to seek civil damages against both perpetrators and the institutions that covered these abuses up, and I will. I’m disappointed in this lack of results, but I continue to work towards providing justice to all victims of abuse. If I am fortunate enough to continue serving the residents of the Commonwealth, I plan to introduce this bill as the first piece of legislation in the new session. We need to stand and be a voice for those whose voice was taken from them.”
Sen. Killion sounded a similar tone.
“I can’t express how disappointed I am that the Senate adjourned without passing this legislation," Killion said. "There’s absolutely no excuse for this. By not passing this bill, we are denying justice for victims who have suffered immensely. The Senate’s inaction has failed generations of victims. We need to get back to work and finally provide justice for these victims. Not to do so is unconscionable.”
Senate GOP leaders tied to broker a deal that would see the Catholic church set up a victims compensation fund that would be administered by a third party.
There also were concerns over whether the two-year window would prove unconstitutional, and whether it would apply equally to both public and private institutions.
All of that now is moot. The process will now have to start all over again in the next session.
You can read the latest here.
But the church's problems are far from over. The U.S. Justice Department yesterday announced it was opening an investigation into the problems of the Catholic church in Pennsylvania, including the Philadelphia archdiocese.
The details on that probe can be found here.
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