10 thoughts on “Petition to Abolish the Statute of Limitations for Child Sex Abuse in PA”
The child victims of sexual abuse have been forgotten too long. It’s the crime that doesn’t get reported immediately like the theft of a car or a murder. These children are adversely impacted by fear, shame, and unnecessary guilt that often tears apart their lives for decades until they can come forward, usually with the help of intense counseling. The perpetrators need identification and punishment so that other children don’t become their victims today or tomorrow.
I have gladly signed the petition and passed it along to many others. Now is the time to act on behalf of victims so that justice can be done.
I voted, saying that since the damage caused by sexual predation on children and women never ends, the statute of limitations should have no end point either. The predator should never have more rights than the victim.
I SIGNED THE PETITION AND SAID ALL STATES SHOULD SIGN AN SOL , MOST ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE ABUSERS WHO HAVE A POSITION OF AUTHORITY IN THE LIVES OF THE VUNERABLE.
I have been really torn about this issue for years. Yes, we say the only way to make the hierarchy pay attention is to hit them in their bankbooks, and one way for victims to seek redress is through financial court settlements. But bankrupt dioceses have not only to cut the fat, sell the mansions and do away with the finery that we’d all like to see go anyway; they also have to cut valuable services that serve people in need. There are dioceses that have creative and effective programs to help survivors heal—why don’t we hear more about them and encourage our (arch)dioceses to emulate them? Bring the bad actors and enablers to justice even after many years, yes, but not necessarily by way of impoverishing religious education and social justice programs. So I’m not ready to sign the petition. I wish there were another way to get the bishops’ attention.
Elizabeth, I understand your fiscal concerns, but Catholic schools are primarily funded by parents tuition payments, and catholic Charities is majorly funded by government grants, which if they did not go to Catholic Charities WOULD go to other services providers and the poor would get served.
It is not the people who bring the “bad actors and enablers to justice” who will have impoverished religious education and social justice programs, rather, it will have been the “bad actors and enablers,” and their crimes.
While religious education and social justice programs are inherently good, they are not impervious to the consequences of evil. There is a good reason for this. When good suffers in the face of evil, people and institutions are affected.
Were our Church to be not affected by its evil, eventually, there would be no Church.
I ask that you allow our Church to hurt, so that it can begin to heal.
Elizabeth…the first and greatest social justice program the rcc should ever get to fund are the victims they have trampled over to get to their bank accounts and real estate. We start by cleaning up our own back yard first, so we CAN help others. And be careful how you see the social justice programs the church funds…lobbyists are included in that. So, while you are thinking, “poor child in Uganda,” the church may actually be funding a fat politician who may slither.
I respect your perspective though. You can only put your name to something to which you are 100% certain.
The child victims of sexual abuse have been forgotten too long. It’s the crime that doesn’t get reported immediately like the theft of a car or a murder. These children are adversely impacted by fear, shame, and unnecessary guilt that often tears apart their lives for decades until they can come forward, usually with the help of intense counseling. The perpetrators need identification and punishment so that other children don’t become their victims today or tomorrow.
I have gladly signed the petition and passed it along to many others. Now is the time to act on behalf of victims so that justice can be done.
I voted, saying that since the damage caused by sexual predation on children and women never ends, the statute of limitations should have no end point either. The predator should never have more rights than the victim.
Reid
I SIGNED THE PETITION AND SAID ALL STATES SHOULD SIGN AN SOL , MOST ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE ABUSERS WHO HAVE A POSITION OF AUTHORITY IN THE LIVES OF THE VUNERABLE.
Signed and shared!!
I hope you receive more support from Australia, in solidarity.
I have been really torn about this issue for years. Yes, we say the only way to make the hierarchy pay attention is to hit them in their bankbooks, and one way for victims to seek redress is through financial court settlements. But bankrupt dioceses have not only to cut the fat, sell the mansions and do away with the finery that we’d all like to see go anyway; they also have to cut valuable services that serve people in need. There are dioceses that have creative and effective programs to help survivors heal—why don’t we hear more about them and encourage our (arch)dioceses to emulate them? Bring the bad actors and enablers to justice even after many years, yes, but not necessarily by way of impoverishing religious education and social justice programs. So I’m not ready to sign the petition. I wish there were another way to get the bishops’ attention.
Elizabeth, I understand your fiscal concerns, but Catholic schools are primarily funded by parents tuition payments, and catholic Charities is majorly funded by government grants, which if they did not go to Catholic Charities WOULD go to other services providers and the poor would get served.
Elizabeth,
It is not the people who bring the “bad actors and enablers to justice” who will have impoverished religious education and social justice programs, rather, it will have been the “bad actors and enablers,” and their crimes.
While religious education and social justice programs are inherently good, they are not impervious to the consequences of evil. There is a good reason for this. When good suffers in the face of evil, people and institutions are affected.
Were our Church to be not affected by its evil, eventually, there would be no Church.
I ask that you allow our Church to hurt, so that it can begin to heal.
Elizabeth…the first and greatest social justice program the rcc should ever get to fund are the victims they have trampled over to get to their bank accounts and real estate. We start by cleaning up our own back yard first, so we CAN help others. And be careful how you see the social justice programs the church funds…lobbyists are included in that. So, while you are thinking, “poor child in Uganda,” the church may actually be funding a fat politician who may slither.
I respect your perspective though. You can only put your name to something to which you are 100% certain.
I have too much proof to not sign it.
I signed it.