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Advocate doubts latest clergy-abuse report will effect change, Pa. Catholic Conference backs current statute of limitations
By Steve Marroni
When state Attorney General Kathleen Kane released a grand jury report Tuesday, detailing four decades of sexual abuse among clergy and church leaders in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, the founder of the Pennsylvania-based Foundation to Abolish Child Sex Abuse wondered why it was even news. "This is what the Catholic church has been doing for decades," said John Salveson, who has been an activist fighting child abuse since 1980. "I would say it's unbelievable, but I've been doing this for a long time." Salveson said the news caused an outcry with every report and every case that made headlines over the years, from clergy abuse cases coming to light to the Jerry Sandusky case. And every time, talk of the statute of limitations for civil cases and criminal prosecution came up with little or no change, he said. "I don't know what it's going to take for Pennsylvania's legislators to do something about this," Salveson said. "What the hell is wrong with these people?" But as of now, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference backs a task force recommendation made in 2012 that no changes should be made to the state's current statute of limitations in sexual abuse cases, which their report says is adequate. The latest news came Tuesday with Kane releasing a grand jury report containing information about many cases of children being sexually abused by more than 50 Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown priests and religious leaders over the course of 40 years. The report calls for reforms, such as abolishing the statute of limitations for sexual offenses against minors and urging the state General Assembly to suspend the civil statute of limitations on sexual-abuse claims. The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown released a statement indicating that they are cooperating with the authorities and will continue to do so. "This is a painful and difficult time in our Diocesan Church," Bishop Mark L. Bartchak said in a statement released Tuesday. "I deeply regret any harm that has come to children, and I urge the faithful to join me in praying for the victims of abuse." Locally, Diocese of Harrisburg spokesman Joseph Aponick said the Diocese has had a zero-tolerance policy since 1997 and has taken many steps toward combating abuse and reporting it to law enforcement when it happens. And Amy Hill, spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, said, "The grand jury report detailing the sexual abuse of children in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown is heartbreaking. We pray that the Catholic church's painful experience will contribute to a better understanding of sexual abuse in all sectors of society." Hill said every dioceses in the state has a zero-tolerance policy in effect and allegations of child sexual abuse are immediately reported to the proper authorities. She said the church is committed to ending sexual abuse by aggressively responding to allegations of abuse and educating adults and children about the signs of abuse. "The sexual abuse of children is widespread throughout or society," Hill said. "We hope that the culture will evolve to affirm to sex abuse survivors that they are not at fault for the crime committed against them." But coming forward is difficult for victims, attorney Michael Boni said on Tuesday. He represented Jerry Sandusky Victim 1, Aaron Fisher, as well as the victims in several clergy-abuse cases. "They either put it out of their minds or they can't face it or they have post-traumatic stress disorder," Boni said. "A lot of them turn to drugs and alcohol. They repressed what happened to them, and it can take many, many years to cope." And for this reason, Boni has backed reforms to the statute of limitations laws for years. Hill pointed out statute has been increased over the years, but at this point, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference believes it should not be changed. In a statement, she said: "The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference holds the same position as the Task Force for Child Protection, which closely examined Pennsylvania's statute of limitations and recommended that it not be changed. The General Assembly appointed the task force in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse revelations at Penn State. The task force recommended a sweeping overhaul of state child protection statutes that resulted in more than 20 laws being passed. You can see the task force's entire statement on the civil statute of limitations on page 28 of its 445-page report." The Foundation to Abolish Child Sex Abuse founder said he is frustrated when news of abuse comes out over and over again with no reform at the state level, and Tuesday's report was just the latest example. "There's nothing new here," Salveson said. "It's been going on for 40 years." He said his organization's efforts have shifted now from reform in Pennsylvania to the formation of a federal commission to combat sexual abuse against children. But as far as reforms go with state leaders, he said, "they should be embarrassed." Contact: smarroni@pennlive.com
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