French bishops speak about money for victims of abuse

Usually, it can take ages before the Catholic church tables a critical report for discussion. The Sauvé report receives a different handling. This was presented on October 5th and horrified both France and the world with new facts about the reality. An estimated 216,000 children would have been victims of abuse from the clergy since the 1950s. The independent commission also estimates that about 3,000 predators have been involved over the past 70 years.

This massive phenomenon had been covered up for decades by a so-called "veil of silence". The commission recommended financial compensation.

According to Euronews, the bishops have devoted almost half of their time this week to the fight against violence and sexual assaults on minors.

"I believe that there is no taboo question," said Monseigneur Luc Crepy, president of the "Permanent Unit for the Prevention and Fight against Paedophilia" on Euronews.

Give them justice

One of the topics they will discuss is financial compensation. For many victims, the crime is too old to be still legally valid. But the church still wants to "recognise these people and give them justice", according to Monseigneur Crepy.

The bishops reckon that it might lead to the payment of "several hundred thousand euros", says the secretary-general of the bishops, Father Hugues de Woillemont.

The money should be taken from the personal assets of the attackers or the Church, the commission said, recommending against any call for donations from the Catholic faithful.

Decisions taken at the meeting over the next few days will be submitted to a vote from bishops on November 8th.

According to the French Catholic daily La Croix, the bishops also had a meeting with victims. That was a very emotional moment for the church leaders. It is "a severe and intense climate", according to Mgr François Touvet.

Referring to the victims who were able to express themselves in the afternoon in the hemicycle, the Bishop of Châlons-en-Champagne said he was "struck down by this courageous, harsh speech".