Rozzi vows to get retroactivity clause back in abuse bill

(Harrisburg) — In April, the state House passed a bill to extend the statute of limitations in child sex abuse cases, which also would have given past victims of abuse more time to file a civil suit.

The Senate sent it back without the retroactive clause.

Now, a state lawmaker from Berks County is vowing to get the retroactivity back in the proposal.

Six of Pennsylvania’s eight Catholic dioceses, including the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, are now under investigation by the state Attorney General’s office for possible clergy sex abuse.

The new probes are spurring advocates like Democratic Representative Mark Rozzi of Berks County to push harder for passage of legislation to allow past victims to sue.

He says he believes the House will stand united, as it did earlier this year.

But if they can’t get the measure passed with the retroactive measure included this session, he will introduce the same bill again in January.

“I’m not going to sit there, pat myself on the back for half a loaf when we have children in this commonwealth suffering this horrific sexual abuse that goes on,” he says.

Rozzi says if senators refuse to help past victims, they will have to deal with the consequences from the public.