Congregations and religious institutions in Portugal expect to receive lists with the names of those suspected of sexual harassment in these institutions at the end of April during the General Assembly of the Conference of Religious Institutions of Portugal (CIRP).
The CIRP President, in written statements to Lusa, said that “lists are expected to be presented at the CIRP General Assembly on April 27 and 28.”
These lists will be provided by members of the Independent Commission for the Study of Child Sexual Abuse in the Portuguese Catholic Church, led by child psychiatrist Pedro Strecht, similar to what happened to national dioceses who received a list of suspects on March 3. , in Fatima, when an extraordinary plenary meeting of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference (CEP) was held.
Sister María da Graça Alves Guedes of Religiosas do Amor de Deus told Lusa that “The CIRP Board has been deliberating” on the action to be taken against the suspects on the lists, “but the determination of the action to be taken will take place at the CIRP General Assembly with participation” Principal Superiors” of congregations and institutions.
Asked if believers who are suspected and still active will be temporarily removed from these institutions while a possible internal investigation process is taking place, the CIRP president clearly answered yes.
“The head priests who have this list will monitor it in accordance with the canonical and civil norms in force,” the nun added, pointing to the adoption of measures identical to those carried out by diocesan bishops, removing members of the clergy from the activities of suspects.
Assuring that the CIRP Board did not know how many suspected cases could appear on the lists that the IC is to submit, Sister Maria da Graça Guedes said that she still does not know how many cases of abuse have occurred in communities and religious institutions in recent years nor what happened to any suspects.
An independent commission for the study of child sexual abuse in the Portuguese Catholic Church, headed by child psychiatrist Pedro Strecht, corroborated 512 of 564 testimonies received, extrapolating to a minimum number of victims of about 4,815.
Twenty-five cases were reported to the prosecutor’s office, resulting in 15 investigations, nine of which have already been archived and six are still under investigation.
These testimonies refer to cases that took place between 1950 and 2022, the period covered by the commission’s work.
As a result of these results, some dioceses have decided to remove certain priests from service until the relevant processes are completed.
The report presented by the Independent Commission on 13 February included indications regarding the Religious Institutions, in the case of women, in particular the Sisters of Our Lady of Fatima of Reparation with eight victims, and the Religious Cults of the Love of God. , with three as the hardest hit.
As for men, the Salesians stood out with 18 victims, followed by the Jesuits (12) and the Franciscans – the Order of Friars Minor (11).
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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