This is the debate that should be, but isn’t really, happening in Pennsylvania. The bills are dying on PA Rep. Ron Marsico’s desk. Bill White, one of the panelists at the November 17th edition of Beerituality, shares one of the reasons in this post.
To my many Catholic friends and readers: please know that this isn’t meant to single out your faith tradition. God knows this sin is everywhere. And it’s also important for the public, Catholic or otherwise, to know where local or regional incarnations of the institution, complete with legislative apparatuses, stand on bills like PA HBs 832 and 878. Given what we know about how long it can take to remember abuse, let alone feel confidant about reporting it, statues of limitations for sex crimes without any kind of “window” for adults recalling childhood abuse seem counter-intuitive to my way of thinking.
What do others think?
Chris Cocca 