Ron Southwick: In the Capitol, Catholic church undercuts pope's vow to victims

Reading Eagle
October 5, 2015

http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/ron-southwick-in-the-capitol-catholic-church-undercuts-popes-vow-to-victims

When he was in Philadelphia, Pope Francis said "God weeps" for those who were sexually abused by priests.

"I pledge to you that we will follow the path of truth wherever it may lead," the pope said. "Clergy and bishops will be held accountable when they abuse or fail to protect children."

State Rep. Mark Rozzi bristles at those words.

Rozzi, a Muhlenberg Township Democrat, has sponsored legislation that would extend the statute of limitations for sex abuse victims to file claims in court. The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference continues to fight bills to extend the statute of limitations.

"While the pope was in the U.S., the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference was in Harrisburg lobbying against victims of sexual abuse," Rozzi said.

The issue couldn't be more personal to Rozzi. A priest sexually abused Rozzi when he was 13 years old. Rozzi has said three of his friends who were abused by priests later committed suicide.