More than 100 priests suspected of abuse remain active in the Portuguese Catholic Church

LISBON, Feb 14 (Reuters) – More than 100 priests suspected of sexually abusing minors remain active in religious services in Portugal, according to the head of a commission investigating the case.

The commission, which began its work in January 2022, said in its final report published 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 just 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 who were still working to be sent to the church and the prosecution.

Strecht said those on the list should be removed from their jobs, or at least banned from interacting with children and teenagers during the investigation.

José Ornelas, president of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference, said the institution has not yet received the list. Strecht said they would receive it “soon”.

“What the Pope (Francis) is saying (is) child molesters cannot hold positions in the ministry as long as it is proven that the person is a molester,” Ornelas said, adding that the Church will not carry out a “witch hunt”. “against its members.

Strecht asserted that the Church has a “moral and ethical duty to cooperate with judicial authorities” in this matter.

Portuguese bishops will meet on March 3 to study the establishment of “more effective and appropriate mechanisms” to prevent future abuses, Ornelas said.

(Reporting by Catarina Demony; Editing in Spanish by Benjamín Mejías Valencia)