Portugal's Catholic Church to Provide Restitution to 57 Survivors of Clerical Abuse

On Thursday, Portugal's Catholic Church announced its intention to provide compensation to 57 victims of sexual abuse, totaling 1.61 million euros ($1.8 million), three years after a scathing report was released.

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This decision comes after an inquiry by the Independent Commission for the Study of Child Sexual Abuse, which concluded in February 2023 that at least 4,815 minors had fallen victim to ecclesiastical sexual violence since 1950.

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The Church received a total of 95 claims for financial compensation, but 28 of these claims were rejected, according to a statement released on Thursday by the Portuguese Episcopal Conference and the Conference of Religious Institutes of Portugal.

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The compensation amounts awarded to the 57 victims, including both children and vulnerable adults, range from 9,000 euros ($10,000) to 45,000 euros.

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In a statement, the Church acknowledged that financial compensation cannot undo the harm caused, nor can it erase the consequences of the abuse in the lives of the victims, stating "We know that granting financial compensation does not erase what happened, nor does it remove the consequences of the abuse in the lives of those who suffered it".

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The Church expressed its desire to acknowledge the suffering and dignity of every person who has been a victim of such attacks, seeking to repair the harm suffered, as stated in the same announcement, "With this concrete gesture, the Church in Portugal wishes to acknowledge the suffering and dignity of every person who has been a victim of such attacks, seeking the possible reparation of the harm suffered".

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A 2023 report, which collected over 500 testimonies throughout the course of a year, revealed that child sex cases had been concealed by the Church hierarchy in a "systemic" manner.

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In August 2023, during his visit to Portugal for World Youth Day in Lisbon, Pope Francis met with 13 of the victims, and the Portuguese bishops requested forgiveness from them.