PENNSYLVANIA
The Mercury
By Kathleen E. Carey, kcarey@21st-centurymedia.com, @dtbusiness on Twitter
POSTED: 06/12/16
In its efforts to squash a bill allowing victims of sexual abuse more time to seek civil recourse, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has launched a campaign that some state representatives say includes lies, misinformation and threats.
The church maintains this legislation could have devastating”impacts on parishes and services as it encourages parishioners to lobby against HB 1947, extending the time an abuse victim can file a civil suit from when they turn 30 years old to 50 years old and removing immunity for organizations found to be grossly negligent.
In a fact sheet distributed at churches regarding the bill last weekend, the archdiocese states the church does not oppose the elimination of the criminal statute of limitations, but it does the civil component due to a lower standard of proof and the impact it would have on the archdiocese.
The bill passed the House of Representatives by a 180-15 vote in April and the state Senate Judiciary Committee plans to hold a hearing on the matter Monday. At that hearing state Attorney General Kathleen Kane is expected to make a statement, and state Solicitor General Bruce L. Castor Jr. will testify.
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