Is Your State Legislator a Child Protector? Check out the Protect Pa Kids Voter’s Guide

By Susan Matthews
Catholics4Change
October 14, 2014

http://catholics4change.com/2014/10/14/is-your-state-legislator-a-child-protector-check-out-the-protect-pa-kids-voters-guide/

The 2011 Grand Jury Report on the Archdiocesan cover-up of child sex abuse was my wake up call. As a mom, I’d assumed there were nothing but allies for child protection in my Church leadership and my state government. How wrong I was. The last several years have been an education for both Kathy Kane and myself. We wanted to do more beyond providing this forum.

I recently founded a political action committee (PAC) called Protect PA Kids. Kathy and other dedicated professionals joined the board and generously donate their time. The PAC is non-partisan and not connected to any organization, candidate or ballot measure. Why a PAC? Lobbyists for financially-driven issues drown out the voices of grandparents, parents, law enforcement officials and advocates. As a PAC, we can leverage our collective resources on their behalf. We support candidates who are working hard to protect children and hold those who aren’t accountable. Please considering joining this PAC. Information is available at www.ProtectPaKids.com.

While we focus on issues ranging from teen driving laws to educator background checks, we’ve prioritized child sex abuse Statute of Limitations (SOL) reform. Child predators could be living in your community because of the current SOL. Bill blockers in the state house may say the current ages of 30 for civil and 50 for criminal are adequate. But we know that recourse doesn’t apply to all victims whose abuse happened prior to 2006, when that law was enacted. Our state representatives and senators should be concerned about whether a particular bill will lead to the financial duress of institutions, will cause insurers liability, give victims false hope or allow lawyers to profit. They should act on behalf of voters and children.

Delaware, Minnesota, Illinois, Massachusetts and other states have enacted SOL reforms. With institutional cover-ups making headlines, including those involving Penn State and our Church, isn’t it time for Pennsylvania to do the same?

We’ve provided a Voter’s Guide for this upcoming election on Nov. 4. Please check it to see if your legislators are child protectors or bill blockers.