PENNSYLVANIA
PhillyVoice
BY JOHN KOPP
PhillyVoice Staff
Joe Crowley says he knew nothing about statutes of limitation when he first described the sexual abuse he suffered to a Boston Globe reporter investigating clerical abuse in Massachusetts.
Simply gaining the courage to share his story publicly had taken years. Eventually, Crowley faced his abuser in court. But there are some sexual abuse victims in Pennsylvania who might never get that opportunity unless changes are made to the statute of limitations.
“I knew that they knew and did nothing,” Crowley said of the Catholic Church. “That was one of the most healing things. It just changed my perspective. The last time I ever saw my perpetrator — he was in shackles.”
Crowley is one of several abuse victims portrayed in the movie “Spotlight,” which detailed the Boston Globe’s efforts in bringing the Catholic abuse scandal to light. He and two others depicted in “Spotlight” joined state Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, in Philadelphia on Tuesday to trumpet legislation that would enable generations of sexual abuse victims to seek justice in Pennsylvania civil courts.
House Bill 1947 would eliminate the criminal statute of limitations on future child sex abuse crimes. But it also would retroactively extend civil statutes, allowing victims until their 50th birthday to pursue legal action. Victims currently must do so before turning 30 years old.
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