Yesterday, Cardinal George Pell, the highest ranking Catholic clergy member ever convicted of sexually assaulting children, was jailed in Melbourne, Australia.
Cardinal Pell faces up to 50 years in prison after he was convicted of sexually assaulting two children. One of the victims said that Cardinal Pell assaulted him in the sacristy of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne while Cardinal Pell was the city’s archbishop.
The prosecution of Cardinal Pell highlights the importance of laws such as the Child Victims Act in New York, which has extend the statute of limitations for civil and criminal cases involving the sexual abuse of minors. As a result of strict and short statute of limitations, sexual predators have been able to avoid prosecution and are instead allowed to hide in plain side. The Child Victims Act finally gives survivors of childhood sexual abuse a voice to speak out, expose predators and hold the entities who have protected them responsible.
If you are a survivor of sexual abuse in New York you may have a claim for civil damages even if the abuse occurred decades ago. Please contact Herman Law today to determine if our firm can help you get long awaited justice.
