After a long day working on a project, I came home to find an email in my personal account announcing a press event on 1 March to discuss the Pennsylvania Child Victim Act Legislation that will be introduced in Harrisburg by State Representatives Louise Williams Bishop (isn’t that an ironic last name?) and Mike McGeehan.
While I am trying not to get my hopes up, if this legislation is successful and finds a way to become law, I and many others would be able to seek something we have been denied by the Catholic Church, the truth! (I bet the boys on Wyoming Avenue thought I was looking for a payday!) I want someone to actually tell me the truth, answer my questions and be up front and honest. Shocking, my demands have always been so unreasonable! (Do I need to tell you to adjust your computer sarcasm setting, again?)
Here is the text of the Foundation to Abolish Child Sexual Abuse press release:
FACSA ACTION ALERT
WHAT: Press Conference to discuss PA Child Victim Act Legislation
WHERE: The Harrisburg Capitol Building Rotunda, Harrisburg PA
WHEN: Tues. March 1, 2011 at !0 AM
WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Any one interested in supporting legislation that will hold the criminals who commit child sex abuse accountable.
FURTHER DETAILS: State Reps. Louise Williams Bishop and Mike McGeehan, D-Phila., will hold a news conference at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 1 at the state Capitol Rotunda to discuss legislation introduced (H.B. 832) and (H.B. 853 ).
The purpose of the news conference is to discuss Rep. Bishop’s legislation that would abolish the statute of limitations on both criminal and civil lawsuits for child sexual abuse and to discuss Rep. McGeehan’s legislation to reopen a two year window to bring civil suit for victims of childhood abuse whose statute of limitations have expired.
Attending the news conference Tuesday will be Bishop, McGeehan, Sister Maureen Paul Turlish, SnDdeN – (NSA) National Survivor Advocates Coalition, Tammy Lerner (FACSA) The Foundation to Abolish Child Sex Abuse, Sherry Sensenig, (PROP) Parents Reaching Out to Parents, Marita Green (VOTF-GP) Voice of the Faithful of Greater Philadelphia, Joy Wuenschel, SNAP-Philadelphia Survivor Network of Those Abused by Priests, Pam Erdely, (SNAP) Pittsburgh.
State Rep. Louise Williams Bishop D-Philadelphia Mike McGeehan D-Philadelphia
Our mailing address is:
The Foundation to Abolish Child Sex Abuse
740 Cornerstone Lane
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Our telephone:
(215) 870-0680
End Text for FACSA.
If you are a resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I ask for your active support. Call your Representative and Senator in Harrisburg and demand that your legislature do the right thing to protect children and to afford the opportunity for justice to those who have been long denied that justice.
Off My Knees - A Blog by Michael Baumann 
Related issue ~ front page article in Sunday Patriot-News. Thought you might like to read it.
Harrisburg Catholic Diocese leader says he knew nothing of alleged child molestations in Philadelphia
Published: Sunday, March 20, 2011, 6:43 AM
By IVEY DEJESUS, The Patriot-News
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/03/harrisburgs_bishop_mcfadden_sa.html
I read that article. These guys still don’t get it do they?
“We made big mistakes and we are sorry.” That would be easier to believe if the victims were treated with respect. In a lot of cases they were not. Many times they were subjected to more abuse by bishops and lawyers. The victims were treated with less respect by higher up than the priests that abused them. How many victims ever get apologies from the priests and bishops that abused them?
This sounds familiar to the new auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, who used to work very closely with Cardinal Law in Boston. I wonder if issues concerning Coyne’s consecration would have been so quiet if Coyne was sent to a diocese with rampant sexual abuse claims, unlike Indianapolis? Its just sad to think that the Vatican would even consider consecrating one a bishop who had those ties to Cardinal Law. I feel for the people, especially the victims of sexual abuse, of that archdiocese.