LISBON (AP) — A committee investigating historic cases of sexual abuse of minors in the Portuguese Catholic Church said Monday that 512 alleged victims had testified as part of the investigation.

Prominent members of the Portuguese Church had previously claimed that only a few cases had occurred.

The Independent Committee for the Study of Child Abuse in the Catholic Church, formed by Portuguese bishops just over a year ago, has studied alleged cases since 1950. The committee presented its final report on Monday , which will be considered next month by the Portuguese bishops.

Most of the alleged cases prescribed.

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