Portuguese Catholic Church compensates 11 more sexual abuse victims with 255,000 euros
The Portuguese Bishops' Conference announces that the compensation process is "practically concluded", now covering 68 victims in total.
Compensation for sexual abuse in the Church reaches 68 victims
Eleven more victims of sexual abuse committed within the Portuguese Catholic Church will receive compensation, totalling 255,000 euros, announced on Monday by Virgílio Antunes, president of the Portuguese Bishops' Conference (CEP), in Fátima. According to sol.iol.pt, the amount is in addition to the 57 compensations already awarded in an initial phase of the process.
"The process of awarding and paying financial compensation is practically concluded," Antunes declared at the opening of the 216th Plenary Assembly of the CEP, which runs until Thursday with the presence of residential, auxiliary and emeritus bishops.
The prelate, who is also bishop of the Diocese of Coimbra, stressed that "no compensation can repair the suffering experienced by the victims". He added that the conclusion of this process and the transition to a new phase "do not mean that the problem has ended or that the Church's responsibility has been completed".
The CEP had announced on 26 March that each of the 57 victims initially covered would receive between nine and 45,000 euros, totalling 1.6 million euros. With the 11 compensations now underway, the universe of compensated victims rises to 68.
Antunes argued for the need to "continue welcoming and supporting victims" and to "continue investing in ongoing training" of pastoral workers, so as to ensure that "ecclesial spaces are safe places".
At the plenary meeting, the CEP foresees giving "continuity to dialogue held with diocesan commissions, the national coordination team and the VITA Group", the president stated. The objective, according to Antunes, is to "point out ways to strengthen the Church's response in Portugal in the face of any abuse situation".
The VITA Group was created by the CEP to monitor situations of sexual abuse in an ecclesial context. The structure, which defines itself as autonomous and independent, has the mission to welcome, listen to and support victims of sexual violence — children and vulnerable adults — as well as to promote the prevention of such situations within the Catholic Church.
Source: SIC Notícias