(intense instrumental music)
- This is a photo of me at the age of 12.
I looked pretty happy.
I believe this picture was taken before the abuse
and I know the child that was after that
was not the same child.
He became a very angry child.
But then again, tried to put on the face
and get through the day and survive.
- [Narrator] Last year the Pennsylvania attorney general
delivered a bombshell.
- Today, Pennsylvanians can learn the extent
of sexual abuse in these dioceses.
- [Narrator] The attorney general's grand jury report
identified more than 300 predator priests
and more than a thousand victims.
It also triggered a wave of hundreds
of previously unknown alleged victims
to come forward and share their stories.
One of those was Jimmy Pliska,
who says he was raped by his local parish priest
more than 40 years ago when he was 12 years old.
- The abuse was a life-changing incident
that just sent my life in a totally different direction.
- [Narrator] Shortly after
the grand jury report was released,
Pliska learned that he wasn't alone.
Two men who had grown up in his neighborhood
came forward with their own stories of alleged abuse
at the hands of the same priest.
- It's the same story, it's the same incidents,
happened at the same place in the same room,
by the same individual.
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- [Narrator] That individual at the center of their stories
was Father Michael J. Pulicare who died in 1999.
- Father was like an extension of the family.
There was no questions or concerns that something was wrong.
He would invite altar boys to go on fishing trips,
a sleepover, and the only place for you to stay
was with Father in his room because that's all there was,
was Father's double bed.
I was the runt, I was a small kid.
There was no way that I could've done anything.
I mean, he was 200 and some pounds.
I was 98 pounds soaking wet.
He's on top of me, I'm not going anywhere
until he got off me and that's when I crawled out of bed
and laid on the floor in the fetal position.
- [Narrator] Today, Pliska, John Patchcowski,
and Michael Heil are represented by attorney Kevin Quinn,
a high school friend of Pliska and Heil's.
- Knowing what happened to Jimmy and Mike and John
really hits home for me.
The reality is, because we're the same age,
we went to the same school, that could've been me
or one of my three brothers.
I'm committed to doing whatever I can to making sure
that they get the justice that they deserve.
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- [Narrator] Today it still isn't clear
what sort of justice is possible for the three men.
The abuse alleged by Quinn's clients
took place more than 40 years ago,
well past the statute of limitations.
- Other states have allowed for extensions
of the statute of limitations.
New York, New Jersey,
those legislators have voted with their conscience.
- [Narrator] Since the grand jury report was released
there have been several attempts
to change the law in Pennsylvania,
but none have been successful.
- The conundrum that my clients have
is there is no ability to have their day in court.
- [Narrator] The only option available to victims
like Pliska right now is a fund called
the Independent Survivors Compensation Program.
Like many other dioceses around the country,
the Scranton Diocese created this fund
to deal with claims against its priests.
- A victim comes forward, explains what had happened to them
and there's a determination made by the administrators
as to whether or not the claim is credible and if so,
whether or not that victim is entitled to any compensation.
There is no review process, it's a final decision.
This is, if you're gonna get something
this is what you're going to get.
- [Narrator] This leaves survivors like Pliska
with a daunting decision.
Do they apply for the fund
and accept whatever money they are offered,
thereby forever giving up the option
of taking the Church to court?
Or do they hold out and hope
that maybe legislators in the State House change the law?
A process that, even if it does happen,
will likely take several years.
And the clock is ticking.
Applicants only have the end of July to sign up
and see if they are eligible for a payout.
- How can I help you guys?
Hi.
- [Jimmy] Hey Bishop, how are you?
- Good. - Jimmy Pliska.
- Oh, okay. - How are ya?
- [Narrator] While visiting Scranton's
St. Peter's Cathedral,
the Bishop of Scranton approached Pliska.
- I do, I did, yeah.
I'm actually grateful for the opportunity to meet you.
- Yeah, same here.
- I know there were some different perspectives
in the report, but please know, if it's any help to you,
that compensation fund is available as well.
- Well that's the problem that we're having,
we're trying to figure out whether to go that route
or what we would much rather see is it go to the courts.
- I understand.
How do you make it, a dollar amount never makes anything up.
- No, exactly and--
- But, but, but, but there is a need for us
to be able to say to you,
this is something that we can give you
and for you to be able to have the opportunity to know
that there is at least some gesture
recognizing what you've gone through
that I can't even begin to fathom.
If you wanna talk more-- - Yeah, I appreciate that.
- Please call me.
- I appreciate that.
- Okay? - I appreciate that.
- All right, take care. - Thank you.
- Thank you, take care. - God bless.
- Wow.
It's not so much about the compensation.
It's about never, ever happening to another child again.
It was a crime that happened to us.
Since when should the Church
be allowed to handle criminal cases?
Why isn't it in front of the judicial system,
as it should be?
- [Narrator] In a statement to The Wall Street Journal,
the Diocese of Scranton said, quote:
While we cannot control the legislative process,
this program is about providing
immediate financial assistance
to people who have suffered horrible cases of abuse.
We understand this process may not be for everyone,
which is why the program is entirely voluntary,
but for many it spares them the lengthy process
of filing a lawsuit and going through legal discovery.
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