FRANKFORT (KY)
SNAP - Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests [Chicago IL]
February 18, 2022
For Immediate Release: February 18, 2022
We applaud Senator Morgan McGarvey and Representative Lisa Willner for their sponsorship, support, and shepherding of SB 153 and HB 464. We believe these bills are much-needed reform that would remove archaic barriers that have been placed in front of survivors of childhood sexual abuse and will allow them the opportunity to expose abusers and enablers in court. We know that giving survivors the opportunity to bring cases against their abusers helps create safer communities and hope that SB 153 and HB464 quickly move forward so that children in Kentucky are safer.
SB 153 and HB464 would remove the statute of limitations for civil actions arising from childhood sexual assault or abuse, giving those survivors who were abused as children the opportunity to receive justice for the crimes they experienced. Because the average age of a survivor of sexual abuse coming forward is 52, too often, those who were victimized as children find courtroom doors closed to them when they finally can confront their trauma and make a report. SB 153 and HB464 would remedy that problem.
To us, this bill is an important step forward in recognizing the realities of childhood sexual abuse. Delayed disclosure in cases of childhood sexual abuse is the norm, not the exception, and so amending laws to be more in line with reporting trends allows more survivors to seek justice and helps prevent future cases of abuse by getting information about abusers and enablers into the hands of police, prosecutors, and the public.
We applaud Sen. McGarvey and Rep. Willner for their efforts on behalf of children and survivors in Kentucky. Over the past several years, many news stories have come out about horrific and systemic abuse against children in places like the Boy Scouts, athletic teams at every level, and churches from every denomination. SB 153 and HB464 will help give these victims a chance to use their voice to heal and prevent future cases and we hope that they pass soon.
CONTACT: Cal Pfeiffer, SNAP Kentucky (caljpfeiffer@cs.com), Mike McDonnell, SNAP Communications Manager (mmcdonnell@snapnetwork.org, 267-261-0578) Zach Hiner, Executive Director (517-974-9009, zhiner@snapnetwork.org)
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)