Roman Catholic Church officials in Pennsylvania say a proposal that would allow sexual-abuse victims from decades ago to file lawsuits could lead to financial ruin for dioceses across the state. Some Harrisburg lawmakers want the state to create a one-year “window” to allow victims to file lawsuits, regardless of how long ago the abuse happened. The strict statute of limitations for sexual abuse cases in Pennsylvania has kept virtually all such cases out of the courts.
After being questioned by The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia released a statement supporting some proposed reforms and explaining why it was opposed to permitting old allegations to enter the courts. It warned that the change would likely expose the church and other institutions to huge damages, causing an “incalculable financial impact … felt in every corner of Pennsylvania.” Before a bill has even been filed, some Harrisburg politicians are quietly seeking a deal that would leave the current law untouched but pressure the state’s Catholic dioceses to put up millions of dollars for a victim-compensation fund.
The idea for a one-year “window” is modeled on one that California legislators opened in 2003, leading to 800 lawsuits being filed. So far, the Philadelphia Archdiocese has paid out $200,000 to settle sex-abuse cases. But the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, an influential lobbying force in Harrisburg, has been warning lawmakers that changing the statute could create a flood of lawsuits.
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