Public Ministry opens 15 investigations after 25 independent commission complaints of sexual harassment in church

The prosecutor’s office opened 15 investigations following 25 reports sent by an independent commission to study sexual violence in the Catholic Church, the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGR) confirmed this Wednesday, which also received four complaints from the Lisbon Patriarchate.

“All the reports received by PGR were sent to the competent structures of the prosecutor’s office. In two cases where the information was too vague, additional elements were requested from the IC and are awaiting a response. In other cases, corresponding requests were initiated. A total of 15 surveys were launched, with some surveys involving more than one person,” reads a PGR response posted this Wednesday by Lusa.

Also according to PGR, the MP received four complaints from the Commission for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons of the Lisbon Patriarchate, in which seven investigations were initiated.

“The Commission for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons of the Lisbon Patriarchate sent four complaints to the Attorney General’s Office – three, one of which concerned several names, first and the fourth, most recently – regarding the possible sexual abuse of children, church members and other people associated with it. These the complaints were sent to the competent structures of the prosecutor’s office, where seven investigations were initiated,” Luse explained in the PRP.

PGR adds that “from [sete] investigations have begun, two are under investigation, and five have received a final registration order.”

According to the organization’s final report, the Catholic Church’s Independent Commission for the Study of Child Sexual Abuse received 512 confirmed testimonies, extrapolating at least 4,815 victims since it took office in January 2022.