The Portuguese Episcopal Conference (CEP) announced that out of 84 requests, two were dismissed due to a lack of evidence of sexual violence, and one was dismissed as the incident occurred outside the Catholic Church’s purview.
In two cases, the CEP noted that individuals did not attend their evaluation interviews, and in two other cases, they stopped responding to contact attempts to schedule such interviews.
Seventy-seven validated requests led to the formation of instructional committees made up of specialists in law, psychology, and psychiatry. So far, 70 interviews have been conducted.
The completed interviews were conducted through diocesan commissions (49), Institutes of Consecrated Life (19), and other ecclesiastical structures (2).
The seven individuals who have yet to be interviewed have recently requested compensation, and their interviews are being scheduled, according to the CEP.
“Of the 70 interviews completed, 65 assessments have been drafted to date,” reads the memo sent to newsrooms. It also states that with most assessments completed, a compensation determination committee will begin its work, setting the financial compensation amounts independently.
This compensation determination committee, set to start by the end of September, will include seven jurists, including lawyers and appellate judges, two appointed by the CEP, two by the National Coordination Team of Diocesan Protection Commissions for Minors and Vulnerable Adults, two by Grupo VITA, and one by the Conference of Portuguese Religious Institutes.
The CEP emphasized that they aim to finalize financial compensation processes by year-end, ensuring individuals who submitted compensation requests receive a well-founded decision explanation.
“Financial compensation payments will be sourced from a fund under the Portuguese Episcopal Conference, currently being established, with contributions from Dioceses and Institutes of Consecrated Life,” the CEP added.
