NEWARK (NJ)
Star Ledger
March 7, 2019
By Susan K. Livio
Bearing photos of themselves as children, six sisters came to a Statehouse hearing in Trenton on Thursday to plead with a panel of state lawmakers to vote in favor of bill allowing child sex assault victims in New Jersey to sue over past abuse.
Five of the Fortney sisters say they were sexually assaulted decade ago by Father Augustine Giella, a priest who was transferred to their parish in western Pennsylvania from the Archdiocese of Newark. They are still seeking answers.
The legislation would expand the state statute of limitations for civil lawsuits in the state, allowing the women to sue and perhaps be able to find out the extent of his horrific acts, they said.
“So much of our story is here in New Jersey,” said Patty Fortney-Julius, one of the five sisters who was sexually abused for nearly 10 years. “We want to know why he was moved from the Newark diocese. … Was he a known pedophile here in New Jersey? Did the Newark Diocese knowingly move our pedophile monster priest to our front door?”
After five hours of emotional testimony, the state Senate Judiciary Committee approved the legislation by a 8-1 vote. The same bill is expected to be voted on Monday in the state Assembly Judiciary Committee, and then voted on by both houses later this month.
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