The Catholic Church in Portugal has announced it will allocate 1.6 million euros ($1.85 million) in compensation to 57 individuals who were victims of sexual abuse by clergy members.
This decision follows a 2023 investigation that uncovered at least 4,815 victims over the past 70 years, highlighting the extensive scale of abuse within the Church.
The Portuguese Episcopal Conference stated that while compensation cannot fully heal the harm caused, it reiterated its apologies to all those affected.
Individual payments will range from 9,000 to 45,000 euros. In total, 67 claims have been deemed admissible, with some still undergoing review.