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A reckoning on clergy sex abuse

Dean Rohrer/Newsart

A reckoning on clergy sex abuse

Investigations and prosecutions have proliferated, but the Legislature still must act

The release of a report by a statewide grand jury detailing the sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests in Pennsylvania, and an institutional cover-up across six dioceses stretching all the way to the Vatican, has sparked a movement and reckoning across our country.

Since the grand jury released its 884-page report in August, my office’s Clergy Abuse Hotline has received more than 1,450 calls. Our agents return every call, and a number of calls are of interest to us and have sparked new investigations.

While the report identified 301 predator priests, the criminal statute of limitations in Pennsylvania prevented my prosecutors from charging all but two offenders. The two priests we did charge, Father John Sweeney of the Diocese of Westmoreland, and Father David Poulson of the Diocese of Erie, both received significant prison sentences and are behind bars.

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While not every victim of clergy abuse received the same sense of closure as Sweeney’s and Poulson’s victims, it has mattered greatly to many survivors that they have been able to share their truths and feel that people finally heard them.

I’ve heard that from victims in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and every corner of our commonwealth.

In our earlier investigation into clergy abuse in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, we held two Franciscan friars accountable for endangering the welfare of children by failing to take action to prevent a predator friar from sexually abusing more than 100 children.

A total of 14 state attorneys general across the country have publicly acknowledged opening investigations into clergy abuse of children. Their work already is having an impact. One example is Illinois, where the attorney general released a report finding that six Catholic dioceses failed to disclose the names of at least 500 accused predator priests. That preliminary report was modeled on our work in Pennsylvania.

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Either myself or my top deputies have spoken to 45 attorneys general about our clergy-abuse investigation.

The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a federal investigation of clergy sex abuse and reportedly has instructed every diocese in the country to preserve documents detailing abuse allegations.

Catholic dioceses nationwide have released the names of more than 1,000 priests accused of sexually abusing children, with more disclosures expected. No longer can they play hide and seek with the truth. People are watching now.

All because of what began in Pennsylvania.

But while all of this is happening, one important response has not happened: Our Legislature has not approved reforms recommended by the grand jury to prevent this kind of horrendous, systemic abuse from reoccurring — and to give victims of clergy abuse their day in court.

The reforms would:

1. Eliminate the criminal statute of limitations for child sexual abuse. Thirty-nine states have no such statute, along with the District of Columbia and one U.S. territory.

2. Create a two-year “civil window” so that victims have two years from the time they disclose their abuse to recover damages and receive the medical or psychological treatment they deserve. The average age of disclosure by a victim of child sexual abuse is 52. Studies show that one-third of all abuse victims do not disclose until adulthood. These victims deserve their day in court.

3. Specify that civil confidentiality agreements do not cover or prevent communication with law enforcement.

4. Clarify penalties for a continuing failure to report child abuse.

Gov. Tom Wolf has pledged his signature when these reforms reach his desk.

Bills to eliminate the criminal statute of limitations for child sexual abuse have already been approved by the Pennsylvania House and Senate but at different times.

The House also overwhelmingly approved the reform granting victims a civil window. The Senate so far has not considered this legislation. If it were brought up for a vote in the Senate, I am certain it would pass.

The grand jury has recommended these reforms. I strongly support all four. The public supports them. A majority of legislators support them. Sadly, though predictably, the bishops in Pennsylvania have not supported them.

There is a reckoning going on in this country — we will hold powerful institutions accountable for protecting their reputation instead of protecting victims.

For far too long, clergy sex abuse has been swept under the rug. The bravery of victims is sparking a fundamental shift. We now must put people before powerful institutions.

Josh Shapiro is the attorney general of Pennsylvania.

First Published: January 25, 2019, 5:00 a.m.

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