Letter to the editor: More attacks on childhood sexual abuse victims

In a time when so much misinformation is presented as fact, the decision to publish Jamison Poklembo’s letter “Don’t be fooled by ‘front groups’ ” (Oct. 5, TribLIVE) is not only dangerous and irresponsible, it legitimatizes another misguided attack on already weary victims of childhood sexual abuse.

The letter is riddled with inaccuracies, and his entire argument hinges on a blatant lie. The reason “None of these folks seem to have acknowledged that a two-year window already was opened to settle these cases” is because there has never been a two-year window opened in Pennsylvania. As the author of one of the editorials he is attacking, and a victim of abuse by a priest in Delaware County, I would like to let Poklembo know that the entire point of these editorials is to fight for the legislation he falsely asserts has already passed.

Perhaps now that the facts are clear, Poklembo and anyone else who mistakes state Sen. Kim Ward’s hijacking of House Bill 951 as some form of bravery can be as outraged as victims have been since the first grand jury report was published in 2005 with the recommendation to reform Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations. There is no larger “front group” that uses victims as instruments for their political theater than the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and in this case, they have fooled Poklembo and TribLive into being a mouthpiece for their cowardice and lies.

As far as Poklembo’s claim that it is all “about the cash,” if someone can return my childhood to me, I would gladly take it over a settlement.

Jay Sefton

Easthampton, Mass.