Child sex crime reform bill in Pennsylvania gets support from dozens of Christian leaders

The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape and almost 80 church leaders across the state have signed a letter addressed to the members of the senate, urging them to approve House Bill 1947 or the child sex crime reform bill.

"PCAR commends the religious leaders who have stepped up to voice their support for statute of limitations reform and children throughout the Commonwealth," PCAR CEO Delilah Rumburg said, as quoted on PennLive. "It is courageous leaders like those who have signed this letter — and those in both the House of Representatives and the Senate—that hold the keys to help, hope and healing for survivors of sexual abuse."

House Bill 1947 will make amendments Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. For instance, in the current Section 5533, infancy, insanity or imprisonment does not extend the time in which an individual can bring civil action. Kids who were abused have until they are 30 years old to sue an offender. With the amendment, the time is extended until they are 50. Also, the list of offenses that can be prosecuted anytime as listed in Section 5551, No Limitation Applicable, mostly involves murder, but the amendment will include offenses against a minor such as human trafficking, sexual servitude, rape, among others.

The Catholic Church, however, deems that the bill is targeting them. According to the report, they said that it would invite lawsuits against the church, thus jeopardizing their ministerial programs.

A letter was emailed on Tuesday to parents of kids attending a Catholic school in Philadelphia. It was reportedly sent by the principal and signed by Chris Mominey, secretary of Catholic education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. According to the report by PennLive, the letter is urging the parents to defeat House Bill 1947 as it "has the potential to cripple our schools, catechetical programs, parishes, and charitable works that serve those in need."

The letter reportedly includes documents such as a summary of the bill's negative impact on the church and a fact sheet. These documents were like those distributed during mass on Sunday, and the letter was similar to one distributed in schools in the Diocese of Harrisburg last week.

Kristen Houser, chief public affairs officer of the PCAR, said that the bill is not directed at the Catholic Church nor is it an issue about faith or denomination; rather, it is a human rights, public safety, and health issue, and many people of faith do support it.

"We hear of people from all walks of life, people who have been harmed in other institutions, schools and youth groups," Houser said. "There's a lot of folks who have adults who did not respond appropriately to reports of abuse. ... We want people to get accountability and get resources they need and recoup loses. You are never going to get your innocence back."

House Bill 1947 passed in the House of Representatives in April, and the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on Monday.