More than 300,000 have been victims of sexual crimes in the Catholic Church in France since 1950. This was announced by the report of a special commission of inquiry, which was presented yesterday.
2,500 pages of investigation over a 70-year period with shocking results: the report of the commission investigating pedophile crimes in the Catholic Church is presented in a difficult atmosphere. He reported about 3,000 sex offenders (clergy and laity in parachurch organizations) and a six-figure number of juvenile victims.
The commission worked for two and a half years on Church, police and media records, and more than 60,000 victims testified in person, some of whom had the floor. The Commission concludes that at least 60% of them have problems in their emotional and intimate life.
“Until 2000, there was a deep, even brutal, indifference to the victims,” said commission chairman Jean-Marc Sove, who called on the Catholic Church to take responsibility. The report contains 45 proposals and recommendations for action. There will be compensation for the victims.
