PA Lawmakers Expect Battle With Church Over Child Sex Abuse Bill

PENNSYLVANIA
CBS Philly

[with video]

by Joe Holden

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A new fight is brewing between the Catholic Church and Harrisburg.

A full-scale battle over Pennslvania’s statute of limitations is expected to break out.

“Just looking at it from a moral compass standpoint? They are so wrong,” said Pennsylvania lawmaker Mark Rozzi.

He and others predict a coordinated challenge from the Catholic Church. But for Rozzi of Berks County, the battle is personal.

He says he was sexually abused by a priest in grade school.

“If I could’ve spoke up when I was 13 years-old, I might have been able to save hundreds of others boys that came after me,” said Rozzi.

CBS 3 was outside a meeting of virtually every Philadelphia priest with Archbishop Chaput this week. There, sources say that talking points were provided to the clergy on House Bill 1947.

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