Foundation to Abolish Child Sex Abuse Pushes for Action on Statute of Limitation Laws

Ads Target Judiciary Committee Chairman Ronald Marsico, Urging Him to ‘Unfreeze’ Two Bills He Has Stalled in Committee

Current Law Prevents Sex Abuse Victims from Seeking Justice and Shields Sex Abusers Who May Continue to Harm Pa. Children, Says FACSA

PHILADELPHIA--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--On the eve of the Jerry Sandusky trial and the imminent conclusion of the clergy sex abuse trial in Philadelphia, a child advocacy group is renewing calls for a change in Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations laws. In a series of newspaper and online ads, the Foundation to Abolish Child Sex Abuse (FACSA) is calling for State Representative Ronald S. Marsico (R-105^th District), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, to act on two bills he is refusing to bring to his Committee.

“Many victims need years to come to terms with their abuse. With our current restrictive statute of limitations, victims are denied the opportunity to seek justice. The system also protects the sexual abuser, who may be abusing other children.”

Stating “Pennsylvania’s children can’t wait for task forces,” the ads implore Marsico to let the Judiciary Committee vote on two bills: one that would create a one-time window when sex abuse victims who are beyond the statute of limitations can come forward and file a suit against an abuser and another that would extend the age limit for filing civil cases against abusers to age 50.

“The recent sex abuse cases at Penn State and in the Catholic Church have made it clear that the statute of limitations laws must be changed,” said John F. Salveson, President of FACSA and a survivor himself. “Many victims need years to come to terms with their abuse. With our current restrictive statute of limitations, victims are denied the opportunity to seek justice. The system also protects the sexual abuser, who may be abusing other children.”

“Chairman Marsico is employing a classic stall tactic,” said Tammy Lerner, state director of FACSA. “Pennsylvania’s children can’t wait one more day. The current law protects child abusers. We must take action now, as other states have.”

Along with the ads, FACSA is calling on concerned Pennsylvanians to contact Chairman Marsico and other members of the Judiciary Committee, urging them to expedite action on House Bills 832 and 878. Further information is available at FACSA’s website: www.abolishsexabuse.org.

Editors: John Salveson and Tammy Lerner are available for interviews.

About FACSA

The Foundation to Abolish Child Sex Abuse was founded in 2006 by John F. Salveson, a successful business owner and survivor. The Foundation works to change state laws in order to:

• Protect children from sexual abuse
• Hold those who sexually abuse children accountable
• Hold accountable institutions which condone and enable the sexual abuse of children
• Help child victims of sex abuse find justice