PENNSYLVANIA
KDKA
Don Cannon
Reporting
(KDKA) PITTSBURGH The Roman Catholic church in the United States has paid out more than $200 million to settle lawsuits for abuse by priests.
The figure could skyrocket if Pennsylvania and other states change the statute of limitations for filing those lawsuits.
Some lawmakers in harrisburg are considering a one-year window in which victims could file a lawsuit regardless of when the abuse occurred.
“It was embarrassment, ridicule, your own self-guilt,” said Paul Dorsch, an alleged sex abouse victim.
“He would wake up from nightmares and couldn't sleep,” said Lisa Dorsch, Paul’s ex-wife. “He would break out in sweats.”
Many victims opted for silence until several years ago when Dorsch, supported by his former classmates at Quigley Catholic High School, spoke out about allegedly being sexually abused by former Quigley headmaster, Jack Hoehl.