LISBON, Feb 14 (Reuters) – More than 100 priests suspected of sexually abusing minors remain active at church functions in Portugal, according to the head of a commission investigating the matter.
The commission, which began its work in January 2022, said in its final report released on Monday that at least 4,815 children had been sexually abused by members of the Portuguese Catholic Church — mostly priests — over 70 years.
He added that the findings were the “tip of the iceberg”, describing the 4,815 cases as the “absolute minimum” number of victims.
Child psychiatrist Pedro Strecht, who chaired the commission, told the SIC television channel that “there is an approximate number (of accused priests) and it is clear that it will exceed one hundred.”
The commission said it was preparing a list of accused priests still working to send to the church and the prosecution.
Strecht said those on the list should be removed from their duties, or at least prohibited from interacting with children and adolescents during the investigation.
José Ornelas, president of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference, said the institution had not yet received the list. Strecht said they will receive it “soon.”
“What the Pope (Francis) says (is that) child molesters cannot hold positions within the ministry as long as it is proven that the person is an molester,” Ornelas said, adding that the Church will not carry out a “hunt of witches” against its members.
Strecht affirmed that the Church has a “moral and ethical duty to collaborate with the judicial authorities” in this matter.
The Portuguese bishops will meet on March 3 to study the implementation of “more effective and appropriate mechanisms” to prevent future abuses, Ornelas said.
(Reporting by Catarina Demony; Editing in Spanish by Benjamín Mejías Valencia)
