This archive report was first published on 13 August 2019.
On August 13, 2019, a new law in New York took effect, allowing victims of child sex abuse to sue their perpetrators, even if the abuse occurred decades ago.
The law change comes at a time when sexual misconduct scandals have been dominating the national conversation, with accusations mounting against religious institutions, elite private schools, sports programs, and celebrities like R. Kelly and Jeffrey Epstein.
Advocates for abuse victims have highlighted the toll of sex abuse on children, who often take years or even decades to process their experiences and speak up about them.
For Charlie d'Estries, it took years to realize that his experiences with a priest as a boy were, in fact, abuse. He had refused to see himself as a victim for decades, but a chance encounter with a nun at his Catholic school reunion changed everything.
“For 50 years, I totally set it aside,” Mr. d'Estries said. “The big piece is about being able to get it out. Let's tell the story because it's worth telling.”
