Stewart Greenleaf, a Pennsylvania State Senator representing portions of Montgomery and Bucks Counties, disclosed a conflict of interest regarding House Bill 1947. Greenleaf stated that he will no longer be involved in any committee meetings regarding passage of the bill because an attorney at his law firm, Elliott Greenleaf, is currently representing a priest who […]
Earlier this month, we wrote about efforts in Pennsylvania to change statute-of-limitations laws in cases related to child sex abuse. The problem with current laws is that they are inconsistent with how victims commonly process their abuse. Memories of child sex abuse can be repressed for decades before victims begin having flashbacks. In other cases, […]
One of the reasons that the movie “Spotlight” has resonated so deeply with the public is that the story is a familiar one. The abuse and cover-ups that took place in the Boston area are strikingly similar to cases that occurred all around the United States, including in Pennsylvania. This week, news outlets discussed a 147-page […]
The ability to interact with others while remaining anonymous is important in a number of settings. Those seeking help with alcohol or drug addiction recognized the importance of anonymity decades ago. Many other support groups have since adopted similar policies. We are currently living in an age when anonymity can be hard to ensure. But […]
Several of our recent posts have discussed the critically acclaimed movie “Spotlight,” which tells the true story of Boston Globe reporters who brought international attention to the problem of clergy sexual abuse. The reaction (to the movie) from the public has been overwhelmingly positive. But among leaders within the Catholic Church, reactions have been mixed. […]
We are now in the midst of “awards season,” when the film and television industries are honored for their best works and their brightest stars. Although not everyone is a fan of awards shows, many Americans have been pleased to hear about the accolades one film has been earning. The movie “Spotlight” and its cast […]
It has been nearly five years since the American public first heard about Jerry Sandusky’s horrible crimes against children. As new information was revealed and investigations were conducted, it became clear that Sandusky’s pattern of sexual abuse was allowed to continue for so long because Penn State officials turned a blind eye. There were several […]
In one of our posts last week, we wrote about an unfolding story in the Midwest involving a former Catholic archbishop. Although the incident did not happen here in Pennsylvania, similar incidents have happened here and in many other parts of the country. In mid 2015, John Nienstedt resigned as the Archbishop of the Archdiocese […]
One of the factors that often work against victims of sexual abuse is delayed reporting. Victims who were abused as children sometimes stay silent for years before finally coming forward. In both criminal and civil trials, jurors are sometimes confused or skeptical when they hear that the alleged victim took so long to report the […]
There are many youth organizations that once enjoyed stellar reputations that have since been tarnished. One of the most prominent examples is the Boy Scouts of America. Rather than instilling positive moral values in boys and young men, the BSA has been accused of allowing scouts to be molested and sexually abused by pedophiles working […]