Survivors of child sexual abuse planned to rally again early this week in Harrisburg following previous visits to the state capitol earlier this month to call for changes to the state’s statute of limitations.

Under the latest bill making its way through the state legislature, victims would have two years from the time of the legislation’s passage to sue over alleged abuse, regardless of how long ago it took place. It would not only cover those assaulted by clergy, but also by public school teachers, coaches, youth group leaders, relatives and others.

The bill has already passed the state House of Representatives. It was then approved by the state Senate’s Appropriations Committee and, in April, that legislative body’s Judiciary Committee voted 11-3 to advance it.

Survivors are now putting pressure on the Senate to call for a vote to create a two-year time window because they believe the bipartisan effort to pass the House bill bodes well in the Senate.

It was originally reported that attempts to amend the state constitution on the matter would be delayed until 2023, and Sen. Majority Leader Kim Ward had noted she didn’t believe the issue rose to the level of an emergency. Some Senate leaders said while the matter deserves consideration, there were concerns over whether such a bill would be constitutional.

Current state law imposes a time limit on when a lawsuit can be filed against an abuser, and many survivors have missed the window when they could sue.

In the wake of revelations in recent years involving alleged abuse by Catholic priests, those who have been victimized have been courageous to come forward and deserve justice. The same can be said of anyone who has suffered such abuse, no matter when it happened.

It has been well established that many victims do not come forward for years — if ever — because they might unfairly blame themselves, fear repercussions, feel uncomfortable about making a very private matter public or not even realize until later what they experienced.

Therefore, people should not lose the ability to hold others accountable for the wrongs they are alleged to have done them simply because time has passed.

Legislators will have to vote their conscience on the matter, but the least they could do is bring it to a vote in the Senate.

Those who have suffered so long — often in silence — are owed at least that.

— NCD