Sexual abuse in the Church: 11 more victims will receive compensation

M11 victims of sexual abuse in the Portuguese Catholic Church will be compensated, in addition to the 57 compensations awarded in the initial phase of the process, said the president of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference (CEP).

“ The process of allocating and paying financial compensation is almost complete. In addition to the 57 compensations granted in the initial phase of the process, the payment of compensation for 11 applications submitted at a later stage, amounting to 255,000 euros”, said Virgilio Antunes, in Fatima.

The prelate spoke at the opening of the 216th Plenary Assembly of the CEP, which ends on Thursday.

The Bishop of Coimbra also reiterated that “no compensation can repair the suffering experienced by the victims”.

“ Therefore, the conclusion of this process and the entry into a new phase more focused on the consolidation of an institutional culture of prevention and protection do not mean that the problem has ended or that the responsibility of the Church has been completed”, he admitted.

For the president of the CEP, “it is necessary to continue with the reception and monitoring of victims and continue to invest in the continuing training” of “pastoral agents, ensuring that ecclesial spaces are safe places”.

According to Virgil Antunes, at the meeting that takes place until Thursday with residential bishops, auxiliaries and emerituses, “continuity will be given to the dialogue with diocesan committees, the national coordination team and the VITA Group”.

“And we will seek to point out ways to strengthen the Church’s response in Portugal in the face of any situation of abuse,” the bishop assured.

The CEP announced on March 26 that each of the 57 victims of sexual abuse with approved compensation request would receive between nine and 45 thousand euros, a total of 1.6 million euros.

The VITA Group was created by the CEP to monitor sexual abuse situations in the Catholic Church.

It is presented as an autonomous and independent structure, which aims to welcome, listen, monitor and prevent the sexual violence of vulnerable children and adults in the context of the Catholic Church.