Pennsylvania survivors of CSA vow to keep fighting for SOL reform; urge concerned citizens to join them

For immediate release: July 15, 2024

In 2018, then Pennsylvania State Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced the results of a grand jury investigation into sexual abuse within six diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the state. This report, revealing widespread assaults on children by clergy and cover-ups by Church officials, shocked the world. It also forced bishops from coast to coast into greater transparency, and inspired Attorney General’s across the country to open their own statewide investigations. The Grand Jury revelations of continuing, systemic cover-up in Pennsylvania, has since been duplicated in other states.

The report included a list of recommendations, among them, and perhaps most important, opening a "civil window,” which would give child sexual abuse victims a second chance to file lawsuits for damages against their perpetrators and those who enabled them. This “look back” legislation for now-adult victims of childhood sexual abuse, who are locked out of the courts by archaic, predator-friendly statutes of limitations, is central both to protecting children and to delivering justice. Similar windows in other states have not only brought many more survivors forward, but, more importantly, revealed “hidden perpetrators” who remain a threat to today’s youth.

Representative Mark Rozzi (D) and Representative Jim Gregory (R), both survivors of childhood sexual abuse, sponsored and passed the recommended window legislation. This took an almost three year, bi-partisan effort. In 2020, just when we believed we would see this initiative on the general election ballot, we were informed that because of an administrative error by the office of the Pennsylvania Secretary of State, this was an impossibility. Making matters worse, we also learned that the entire multi-year process would have to begin again from scratch. 

We expected our elected officials to act promptly to correct such a tragic error, but sadly this year they again allowed the clock to run out on this crucial piece of legislation. Since the proposed bill will miss the August 5^th deadline, a 2024 ballot opportunity is also dead. 

In our opinion, the legislature has once again ensured that Pennsylvania is a sanctuary state for those who sexually abuse children. Ironically, the Pennsylvania Attorney General who led the nation in protecting children in 2018, is now the Governor of what can only be described as a safe space for child predators. 

As Pennsylvania survivors, we once again feel betrayed. We are devastated and discouraged. However, we are also determined to continue fighting, primarily because we fear for the safety of today's children. We can only hope that most, if not all, voters not only share our fear, but will also join us in working to rectify this deplorable situation.

Another battle may have been lost, but the war is not yet over.

CONTACT: Mike McDonnell, PA Survivor & SNAP Communications Director ([email protected], 267-261-0578), Shaun Dougherty, PA Survivor & SNAP Interim Executive Director ([email protected], 814- 341-8386) 

(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for more than 35 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)