Hoatson is the founder of the non-profit "Road to Recovery," which is an organization dedicated to assisting victims of sex absuse, as well as their families. He has been outspoken in calling for Bishop Richard Malone's resignation and a major proponent of this legislation from the beginning.
"For 16 years I have been traveling to Albany trying to convince legislators that victims need their day in court," he said. "Finally, that day may be on the horizon."
Renowned lawyer and victims advocate Mitchell Garabedian represents dozens of local victims, and he says his clients are cautiously optimistic about the bill's potential passage.
"If the bill passes, it's a large step toward victims of clergy sexual abuse and sexual abuse gaining validation in their live - much needed validation," said Garabedian. "Validation is the primary focus in the healing process for victims. Validation provides a victim with confidence they haven't had in years, with the ability to begin to realize that the sexual abuse was not his or her fault."
Garabedian discussed some of the benefits that this legislation would have for victims.
"In addition to the validation, it's going to allow victims to gain transparency, to file lawsuits, go to court, request documents showing not only the sexual abuse, but how supervisors were complicit in the sexual abuse," he said. "
Hoatson says that a passed bill would be monumental because it would be giving a voice to the voiceless, and that's true justice.
"These are folks who have thought they had no alternative, that they were going to have to take this secret and this matter to the grave with them," said Hoatson. "Now, there's the possibility that they can file a lawsuit against their abuser, haul that person into court, hopefully, and hold them accountable in some way."