Summary:

Over the past two years, over 500 witnesses have come forward with accounts of molestation by Catholic clergy, spanning several decades.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/belgian-church-abusers-pay-victims-15346387#.Tw8GsJuL6Tq

[12 January 2012] - Belgium's Catholic Church says that priests and clergy who abused children will be required to pay damages, even if victims make their claims after the country's statute of limitations has expired.

In an overall response on how to deal with the abuse scandals that have enveloped the church, it urged victims on Thursday to take their case to civil authorities first.

But the church also said it is willing to impose penalties ranging from apologies to financial compensation for recent cases and those so old they can no longer result in court cases.

Bishop Guy Harpigny says the church will keep abusers within the fold but make sure they no longer hold positions of authority or contact with the outside world.

Over the past two years, over 500 witnesses have come forward with accounts of molestation by Catholic clergy, spanning several decades.

Further Information: 

• NETHERLANDS: 20,000 children abused by Catholic priests since 1945 (23 December 2011) 
• UNITED KINGDOM: Vatican sexual abuse inquiry into Ealing Abbey given short shrift (28 October 2011) 
• HOLY SEE: Sex abuse victims take Vatican to court for possible crimes against humanity (14 September 2011) 
• IRELAND: Irish prime minister accuses Pope of downplaying rape, torture of children (22 July 2011) 
• HOLY SEE: Pope's new guidelines on child abuse 'are meaningless' (18 May 2011) 
• CHILD ABUSE: Vatican accused of breaching CRC (16 March 2011)
• UN: Vatican child rights report 13 years overdue (16 July 2011) 
• HOLY SEE: Should there be an inquisition for the Pope? (30 March 2010)
• DENMARK: Child rights group wants review of church secrecy laws (22 March 2010)
• GERMANY: Church abuse scandal reaches Pope's brother (11 March 2010)
• IRELAND: Church 'routinely covered up' child sexual abuse for 30 years (30 November 2009)
• EXPLOITATION: Vatican to be sued over sex abuse claims (15 December 2008)
• UNITED KINGDOM: Church accused of abuse cover-up (26 April 2007)
• AUSTRIA: Sexual Abuse of Children by Members of the Roman Catholic Church (10 December 2005)
• CHILD ABUSE: Some Demand UN Address Church Abuse (May 2002)
• CRIN's Forms of Violence pages on **Physical abuse** and **Torture**
• Council of Europe's One in Five campaign against sexual abuse of children
• More on children's rights in the Holy See 

Previous News release items

• 11/01/2012: CHINA: Teacher made students slap each other as punishment
• 11/01/2012: JAMAICA: New PM vows to review anti-gay law
• 11/01/2012: ISRAEL: New law designed to stop 'infiltrators'
• 11/01/2012: BRASIL: Madereros invaden comunidad indígena donde una niña fue “quemada viva”
• 11/01/2012: Nigeria : grève et violences se poursuivent

Organisation Contact Details:

ABC
Website: www.abc.es

Last updated 12/01/2012 16:13:29

Please note that these reports are hosted by CRIN as a resource for Child Rights campaigners, researchers and other interested parties. Unless otherwise stated, they are not the work of CRIN and their inclusion in our database does not necessarily signify endorsement or agreement with their content by CRIN.