Marsico Reacts to Child Sex Abuse Scandal

Representative Ronald Marsico
105th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
RonMarsico.com
Media Contact: Autumn R. Southard, 717.652.3721
[email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 9, 2016

Marsico Reacts to Recent Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse
in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown

HARRISBURG – House Judiciary Committee Majority Chairman Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin) issued the following statement in regard to the recent report regarding the investigation of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown and pending legislation dealing with Pennsylvania’s statutes of limitations:

"All of the members of the Judiciary Committee are horrified to learn of the recent allegations of child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown and our prayers go out to the victims and their families.

"Over the past three years, protecting children has been a major focus of the committee. Using recommendations of the Task Force on Child Protection as a guide, the Judiciary Committee, along with the Children and Youth Committee, worked to wholly reform Pennsylvania’s laws to better address the terrible crime of child abuse.

"We, in the legislature, will always fight to protect children, and I certainly support doing more to continue to support the victims of these horrendous crimes. While there are only a very few states with a longer window for their civil statute of limitations, I support fully abolishing the criminal statute of limitation for future criminal prosecutions.

"In addition, I further believe there should not be any differences between public or private entities in these situations.

"The Judiciary Committee plans to work expeditiously to move legislation to strengthen our laws already in place and send it to the House floor for a full vote.

"By making sure everyone who sexually abuses a child can be prosecuted, justice will always be served."

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