PENNSYLVANIA
Tribune-Democrat
By Dave Sutor
dsutor@tribdem.com
HARRISBURG – Hundreds of small blue flags signifying Child Abuse Prevention Month fluttered near Shaun Dougherty as he spoke from the state Capitol steps on Monday.
The Westmont resident offered his support for a bill that would eliminate the criminal and civil statutes of limitations in cases of future child sexual abuse, while also providing a one-time, two-year window of retroactivity for past victims, such as Dougherty, to bring civil claims against perpetrators.
Dougherty, during his brief comments, pointed to the area where the flags were located behind a wall.
“I don’t want any other children in this state to live the way I live,” said Dougherty, who was allegedly abused by a local priest.
“I want them to be happy. I don’t want any more of those blue flags anywhere, anywhere around here. No more. I want to burn all those damn flags.”
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