Do away with law shielding child molesters
Among the troubling findings in the sexual abuse case against a Catholic Diocese of Erie priest are indications that the two victims involved might not have been the only ones.
In announcing that his office had charged the Rev. David Poulson, 64, of Oil City, with sexually abusing two victims when they were minors, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro noted that nine other men testified before a statewide grand jury about contact they had with Poulson as minors.
“In at least one of these cases, prosecutors believed evidence of a sexual assault existed, but it was barred on statute of limitations grounds,” Shapiro’s office said.
In other words, justice is forever out of reach of that man because of the amount of time that has passed since the alleged offense. Given the nature of the crime, that’s unacceptable.
At his news conference in Erie where he announced the charges last week, Shapiro renewed his call for eliminating the criminal statute of limitations going forward in cases involving the sexual abuse of children. We support Shapiro’s recommendation and urge the Legislature to take prompt action.
“It is long past time to reform these arbitrary time frames and seek justice for all of our children,” he said.
The current statute of limitations, set in 2007, allows criminal charges to be filed until the victim’s 50th birthday. Such crimes committed before the 2007 law are covered by previous statutes, which were much more restrictive.
Nothing can be done about crimes covered by those previous statutes, in criminal court at least. That means that many offenders are beyond the reach of law enforcement.
But there’s a compelling case for eliminating the criminal statute, as with homicide, given the heinous nature of the crimes and their devastating effects on the victims. The law should offer no haven for those who prey on children.
It’s not uncommon for child victims to take years, even decades, to come forward. The emotional damage of their abuse lasts long after they come of age.
“Children are targeted by predators because they are vulnerable, they are young and they struggle with shame, confusion or fear,” Shapiro said.
Shapiro also rightly backs the elimination of the statute of limitations on civil cases brought by people who were victimized as minors. The law currently gives them until their 30th birthday to sue.
Eliminating the civil statute would offer another path to justice for those victims. The reform should also include a temporary retroactive window allowing victims to sue in cases that are now beyond the statute.
That would allow some measure of justice for those victims, and a reckoning for their abusers. Shapiro supports that provision, though some legislators claim it would be unconstitutional.
Make Bike Lanes Safer
The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia will hold a “Ride of Silence” on Wednesday to mourn cyclists killed on Philadelphia’s unsafe streets.
The coalition planned its solemn ride even before food courier and cycling enthusiast Pablo Avendano, 34, was killed a week ago. An SUV struck Avendano on Spring Garden Street near 10th Street.
Avendano seemed to be following safety protocols. In fact, his helmet lay in the street near his bicycle as police investigated the scene.
This is the second time in as many years that a cyclist struck in central Philadelphia died. Emily Fredricks, 24, was killed in November 2017 when she was hit by a trash truck on Spruce Street near 11th Street.
Philadelphia has more traffic deaths per capita than New York, Los Angeles, or Boston, according to the city’s Vision Zero plan to reduce traffic deaths to zero by 2030.
Mayor Kenney has said he wants to add bike lanes to ensure cyclists are adequately protected. Council should be involved in that process, but not given the expanded powers Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell sought in a misguided bill she introduced in March.
Going forward, the administration wants to move bike lanes on Spruce and Pine Streets, from Front to 22nd Streets, to the left sides of those thoroughfares. Other ideas include separating bike riders from cars using Jersey barriers, poles, and planters, as well as moving parking lanes off curbs, leaving cyclists to travel between parked cars and the sidewalk.
The city should accelerate its plans to protect cyclists before another one dies. In the meantime, the general public should support the coalition when its members gather at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the steps of the Art Museum.
People ride bicycles to get to work and school, for sport and for health. Doing that shouldn’t mean dying on the streets of Philadelphia.