At least 4,815 children have been sexually abused by members of the Portuguese Catholic Church – the majority by priests – in the last 70 years, according to a report published this Monday (13) by the commission investigating the matter, with the text adding that the findings are the tip of the iceberg.
“(We want) to pay a sincere tribute to those who were victims of abuse during childhood and dared to give a voice to silence,” said child psychiatrist Pedro Strecht, who chaired the commission. “They are much more than a statistic.”
Strecht said the 4,815 cases were the “absolute minimum” number of victims of sexual abuse by members of the clergy in Portugal since 1950.
Most perpetrators (77%) were priests and most victims were men, Strecht said, adding that they were abused in Catholic schools, churches, priests’ homes, confessionals, among other places.
Most sexual abuse occurred when children were between 10 and 14 years old, with the youngest victim being just two years old.
José Ornelas, head of the Episcopal Conference, attended the presentation of the final report and will respond this Monday. The Church had previously said it was prepared to “take appropriate action”.
The Portuguese Catholic Church was rocked last year by cases of alleged cover-ups of sexual abuse, including by bishops who remain active in church posts. The commission said it was preparing a list of accused priests who were still working.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
