Born, raised and sexually abused by priests in Pennsylvania, we are two licensed mental health professionals with a combined 50 years of experience in the field of psychology. We’re also the co-authors of “Unreconciled,” a solo play about a Pennsylvania survivor of childhood sexual abuse seeking healing and justice. As the play tours the United States and abroad, the question we most often hear is: “Why hasn’t Pennsylvania already opened a retroactive two-year look-back window like most other states?”
We wish we had an answer to give. As mental health professionals, we know that asking “why” is not always the most effective way to solve a problem. It can often lead to excuses and blind us from possible solutions. We’ve moved beyond needing to know why Pennsylvania lawmakers have chosen to dwell in the wreckage of excuses for over 20 years while ignoring the safety of the children they serve. It is time to act.
The average age for most victims of childhood sexual assault to disclose their abuse is 52. Our work in the field of mental health and our experience as survivors confirm this. Since the release of the first grand jury report in Philadelphia over 20 years ago, there is only one recommendation that remains mummified on the desks of state senators: a retroactive two-year “look-back” window for survivors to bring their cases to court after the statute of limitations have expired, exposing the predators who continue to threaten the safety of Pennsylvanians.
Pennsylvania families deserve better. Most citizens of the commonwealth would agree that statute of limitations reform should no longer be the issue that compromises children’s safety and denies justice to survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
The Pennsylvania Senate has the power to take a huge step forward toward justice and healing this spring by taking action on Rep. Nate Davidson’s statute of limitations reform — House Bills 462 and 464. Both bills have already passed the House and are once again stalled in the Senate, begging for a vote.
From April 20-25, the State Capitol in Harrisburg will host survivor rallies, policy hearings and a free performance of “Unreconciled” at the Gamut Theatre, just steps from the Capitol building. Once again, weary survivors will show up, daring to hope that justice and healing may at last be delivered. Once again, reporters with their cameras will descend on the Capitol steps to cover the story.
Will it be different this time? Can Pennsylvania find the courage to join the majority of states in protecting their citizens and delivering justice? Will there be a historic vote in the Senate on the final piece of statute of limitations reform left for Pennsylvania to implement? Every senator and representative says this is a priority for them, so let’s not waste time and energy asking why it hasn’t been done and who is to blame — let’s just get it done.
The call to action is simple: Contact state Sens. Joe Pittman and Kim Ward and tell them you believe Pennsylvania deserves to be a safer state, that you stand with survivors and that they need to bring the legislation to the Senate floor for a vote.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Let’s make this April the month that Pennsylvania finally protects children and opens the door to healing and justice.
Jay Sefton is a licensed mental health counselor, actor and playwright in Massachusetts; he is originally from Havertown, Pa. Dr. Mark Basquill was raised in South Philadelphia and practices clinical psychology in Wilmington, N.C. He is a playwright and author.