Clergy Abuse in Pennsylvania

Clergy Abuse – Pennsylvania

More than eight years after U.S. Roman Catholic bishops vowed swift action to keep potential abusers from young people, the Philadelphia archdiocese has suspended 21 priests named as child molestation suspects in a scathing grand jury report. The suspensions came on Tuesday, the eve of Lent, the Christian period for penance leading up to Easter. The priests, whose names haven’t been released, have been removed from ministry while their cases are reviewed, Cardinal Justin Rigali said. The two-year grand jury investigation into priest abuse in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia resulted in charges against two priests, a former priest and a Catholic school teacher who are accused of raping boys. And in an unprecedented move in the United States, a former high-ranking church official was accused of transferring problem priests to new parishes without warning anyone of prior sex abuse complaints. http://www.newsmax.com/US/PriestAbuseCharges/2011/03/09/id/388823

An Adams County daycare owner, who’s accused of not reporting child sex abuse at her daycare, waived her arraignment. The employee at her daycare in Aspers, recently plead guilty to molesting six girls. Authorities say Bonnie Bretzman knew about it, but didn’t report it. It happened at the 100 block of Clines Church road in Aspers. Children and Youth notified police in May. After that moms of more victims came forward. On the front door of Bretzman’s home a sign reads that she’s closed until February 21st. No one would open the door. The Adams County Children Advocacy Center said that unfortunately, the number of reports of child abuse is going up. “So it is an epidemic. You know, when you asked about the future of our children and society, we have more than 37 million adult survivors of childhood sex abuse walking around without interventions and support,” said Executive Director Joddie Walker. “It can lead to a lot of hurt/damaged adults.” Statistics show that one in every four girls and one in every six boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18. This case involves six young children, who are all now getting help. http://www.whptv.com/news/local/story/Daycare-owner-accused-of-neglecting-child-sex/JStauFu9L0KU4Fh3SrKw6Q.cspx

Attorney Samuel Rogatinsky cares about survivors of sexual Abuse. In addition to clergy abuse cases, Sam will expose sexual abusers from every type of organization or institution. Recently, Mr. Rogatinsky filed suit against a mental health facility that was abusing a patient. He wll review the circumstances of each particular case and guide survivors through the maze that they must navigate in order to get justice. In addition to clergy, priest and rabbi abuse, the Rogatinsky Firm will handle sexual abuse cases against churches, schools, medical professionals such as psychologists, mental health facilities, Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs and athletic organizations. Sexual abuse is not tolerated by the Rogatinsky Firm and they will exhaust all resources before giving up on any case. You can reach Sam on the toll free number found on this site or call him at (954)444-4032 after hours. Mr. Rogatinsky  believes child sex abuse support groups like http://www.childhelp.org/ and http://www.way2hope.org/sexabuse.htm can be helpful too.

Contact Mr. Rogatinsky if you have any type of sex abuse or child sex abuse case. For your convenience, the statute of limitations for Nevada are listed here:

Statute of Limitations for Civil Cases:

• Ø There is a 12 year Statute of Limitations for child sexual abuse cases with a Delayed Tolling for Minors; Twelve-Year Statute of Limitations for Childhood Sexual Abuse : Victims who were minors when the abuse occurred have twelve years from their 18th birthday to bring a civil action regardless of whether or not the victim brings a criminal proceeding as well. 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann.§ 5533 (2008).
• Ø The courts will not toll the statute of limitations in childhood sexual abuse cases regardless of the victim’s inability to bring suit due to repressed memories. The Court reasoned that the discovery statute is for when “the injury is not readily discernible as opposed to cases where it is the incapacity of the plaintiff which causes the delay in bringing suit.” Dalrymple v. Brown, 701 A.2d 164, 168 (1997); Pearce v. The Salvation Army & Crouch, 674 A.2d 1123 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1996); Seto v. Willits, 638 A.2d 258 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1994).
• Ø The statute will not revive any claim which has been barred by a prior existing statute of limitations. Act. No. 2002-86, sec. 3, § 5533(b), 2002 Pa. Laws (West).

Statute of Limitations for Criminal Cases:

• Ø There is a varying Statute of Limitations for Childhood Sexual Abuse Charges End When the Minor Victim Turns 50 : Prosecution of childhood sexual abuse charges must be commenced before the minor victim turns 50 years old. 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann.§ 5552(c)(3) (2008).
• Ø DNA Exception : If a DNA test can identify an otherwise unidentifiable perpetrator, prosecution may be commenced within the previously stated statute of limitations, or one year after the identity of the perpetrator is discovered, whichever is later. 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann.§ 5552(c.1) (2008).