The New Jersey Senate has delayed a vote on a measure that would eliminate the two-year statute of limitations to file civil lawsuits for child sex abuse.

The bill’s primary sponsor, Senator Joe Vitale, says the bill was held because he wasn’t sure there were enough votes for passage.

Four Democrats were on vacation and unable to attend the rare summer session.

Mark Crawford was sexually abused as a child and is an advocate for other victims. He’s hopeful the Senate will approve the measure next month.

 “This is a simple choice. They’re either going to choose to do the right thing and protect children, or they’re going to choose to protect powerful institutions and the predators that are harming our children.”

The bill would allow victims to hold religious, educational, and charitable institutions responsible for sexual abuse committed by their employees.

The Catholic Church has lobbied against the measure, claiming it would benefit trial lawyers while having the potential to cause churches to go bankrupt.

Senator Vitale says some victims repress what happened and don’t report the abuse for years. He says those victims should be able to take their case to court no matter how old they are.

“The institutions that have traditionally allowed this abuse to take place in many places around the country and around the world have to be held to account, and if there isn’t the specter of there being some sort of financial punishment I don’t believe that they’re going to continue to do the right thing.”