Church in Portugal to pay 1.6 million euros in compensation to 57 sexual abuse victims

The Portuguese Episcopal Conference (CEP), affiliated with the Catholic Church in Portugal, has shared details with the public regarding the compensation process initiated for sexual abuse cases involving Catholic clergy in the country.

The Portuguese Episcopal Conference (CEP), affiliated with the church, reported that only 95 people applied for compensation following the commission's activities conducted in the past regarding sexual abuse incidents.

It was announced that 67 of these individuals were found eligible for compensation, while the remaining applications were rejected on the grounds that they did not meet the requirements or failed to participate in the commission.

The CEP stated that 57 compensation applications have been approved so far, with payments per person ranging between 9 thousand euros and 45 thousand euros.

Furthermore, it was stated that 9 applications are still in the final review stage to determine the amount of compensation to be paid. The statement said, "Financial compensation does not erase what happened or reverse the consequences in the victims' lives. We reiterate our apology for all the harm caused."

A report published in February 2023 by a commission funded by the church revealed that at least 4 thousand 815 children and vulnerable adults in Portugal had been sexually abused by Catholic clergy, most of whom were priests, over the last 70 years.