The Priest's Two Faces... Sexual Abuse of 4,800 Children by the Portuguese Catholic Church

Over the Past 70 Years... 77% of Perpetrators Were Clergy
Victims Mostly Male and Aged 10-14

Major foreign media reported on the 13th (local time) that at least 4,815 minors have been sexually abused by clergy and others in the Portuguese Catholic Church over the past 70 years.

An independent commission investigating the issue of child sexual abuse in the Portuguese Catholic Church released its final report on the same day.

The commission, composed of six members including psychiatrists, former judges, and social workers, collected cases of child sexual abuse within the church that occurred between 1950 and 2020 over about a year.

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According to the commission's report, 77% of the perpetrators were clergy members, and the rest were individuals affiliated with church institutions.

The majority of victims were male, but females accounted for 43%. The incidents occurred in church schools, churches, clergy residences, and confessionals.

The most common age group of victims was 10 to 14 years old, and there was testimony of the youngest victim being 2 years old.

Pedro Stretz, the commission chair and a child psychiatrist, said, "I sincerely honor the victims who broke the silence and raised their voices," adding, "The actual number of abuse cases is higher than the statistics."

A victim who identified herself as 'Alexandra' (43) said, "When I was 17 and a novice nun, I was sexually assaulted by a priest during confession."

Alexandra said, "It is not easy to reveal such incidents in Portugal, where 80% of the population are Catholics," and added, "I reported this to the church three years ago, but after the responsible bishop reported it to the Vatican, no follow-up action was taken."

She continued, "I don't understand what it means for the bishops to ask me for forgiveness," and said, "The church that conceals sexual abuse is disgusting."

The commission decided to submit the list of perpetrators separately to the Portuguese Episcopal Conference and the police, and plans to notify the church of the names of perpetrators still in office by the end of this month.

The commission stated, "Most of the identified cases are beyond the statute of limitations, and only 25 cases have been handed over to investigative authorities," and argued, "The statute of limitations for child sexual abuse crimes should be extended."

It also urged, "The church must condemn all allegations of abuse, provide psychological and social support to victims, and continue to investigate the issue."

Meanwhile, in 2019, Pope Francis promised to eradicate sexual abuse within the church amid global revelations of clergy sexual abuse cover-ups.