Consecrated Life/Portugal: Religious Institutes approved “attribution of financial compensation” to victims of sexual abuse

CIRP highlights that it remains “committed to the clear and firm resolution of these tragic situations”

Fátima, 30 April 2024 (Ecclesia) – The Conference of Religious Institutes of Portugal (CIRP) approved, “unanimously”, the granting of financial compensation to victims of sexual abuse, at the General Assembly that took place, this Monday and Tuesday, in Fátima.

“CIRP remains committed to the clear and firm resolution of these tragic situations, expresses its closeness to all the victims and wishes to actively contribute to the resolution of this drama within society in general”, reads a statement sent today to the ECCLESIA Agency .

The Conference explains that this approval is part of the “path of reparation” that the Catholic Church in Portugal has been following “in the context of the protection of minors and vulnerable adults”, and in communion with the Portuguese bishops.

The CIRP General Assembly informs that it has also decided to work together with the Portuguese Episcopal Conference (CEP) and has scheduled an extraordinary General Assembly for the 6th of June, “to deepen the way of dealing with this issue within the Institutes Religious and Societies of Apostolic Life”.

The theme of the XXXVII General Assembly of the Conference of Religious Institutes of Portugal was the question ‘How to walk together in Mission?’, the president of the CIRP board (triennium 2023-2026) recalled the “growing social problems” in which Portuguese society lives and “the drama of migrants who arrive in the country in search of a dignified life”.

In the context of the 50th anniversary of the ‘April 25th Revolution’ and May 1st, Father Adelino Ascenso, from the Boa Nova Missionary Society, also warned that “rights and freedoms” were “acquired” and must be preserved.

This general assembly took place on the 29th and 30th of April, the first day was dedicated to reflecting on two themes that “mark the current situation of the Church in Portugal”, the synodal path 2021-2024, with the Second Session of the XVI General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which takes place in October, and the “challenges of youth ministry” in Portugal, after World Youth Day (WYD) Lisbon 2023.

CIRP invited professor José Eduardo Borges de Pinho, member of the CEP synodal team, who spoke about “synodality as a constitutive dimension of the Church”, and highlighted the “important role” that consecrated people are called to play “in this journey of renewal synodal, for the diversity and richness of its charisms”.

To reflect on the action of youth pastoral, the General Assembly of the Religious Institutes of Portugal received Father Filipe Diniz, assistant of the National Department of Youth Ministry (DNPJ), who recalled the “new stage that requires preferential attention for young people”, they are called to “listen to them from a synodal perspective, to give them protagonism and to accompany them in their formation and discernment”.

In this context, in small groups, the assembly reflected on the challenges that remained of WYD Lisbon 2023 and presented proposals for a path “with a hopeful look at the future”, suggestions such as: creation of “spaces for welcoming, listening, monitoring and discernment”, with trained people, in a logic of greater proximity to young people; “move from the big event(s) to the daily commitment of the relationship with Jesus”, giving space to prayer and interiority, risking a creative and artistic language; trust in young people and “let them, with their way of being and celebrating, have space in the community and be the protagonists of the mission”.

The 37th CIRP General Assembly approved the 2023 financial report, scheduled the next ordinary general meetings – 18th and 19th November; 19 and 20 May 2025 and 17 and 18 November 2025, and congratulated the election of Sister Ângela Coelho, from the Alliance of Saint Mary, as advisor to the Executive Committee of the Union of European Conferences of Major Superiors (UCESM ).

The Conference of Religious Institutes of Portugal is an organization governed by pontifical law that integrates 132 Religious Institutes and Societies of Apostolic Life existing in Portugal (94 female and 38 male).

CB/OC

Church/Portugal: Episcopal Conference approves financial compensation for victims of abuse