Portugal’s Church faces outrage from abuse survivors after bishops secretly slashed compensation recommendations by half.
Newsroom (15/04/2026 Gaudium Press) Survivors of clerical sexual abuse in Portugal have condemned what they describe as a betrayal by the country’s bishops after revelations that Church leaders quietly halved compensation amounts recommended by an independent panel of experts.
The news, first reported by The Pillar last week, detailed how the Portuguese bishops’ conference cut awards suggested by the Compensation Determination Commission—an independent body that included judges—without informing victims or the public. Survivors and advocacy groups say the move undermines trust and exposes the Church’s ongoing lack of transparency.
António Grosso, a survivor and head of Coração Silenciado (Silenced Heart), called the bishops’ actions “unspeakable.” He criticized what he called the manipulation of a process that was presented as final and authoritative. “There was a Compensation Determination Commission, which included judges,” Grosso told The Pillar. “‘Determination’ means determination. But as it turns out, the commission determined something and then someone came along later and decided differently.”
According to the report, the bishops’ conference reduced the recommended payments by around 50%, cutting some victims’ compensation by tens of thousands of euros.
Lack of Transparency and Accountability
Grosso said the decision not to disclose the February vote to approve the cuts reflects a pattern of secrecy by the Church hierarchy. “This whole process is based on a report on our lives,” he said. “But throughout the whole process, we were never allowed to read what was written in those reports and what led them to those conclusions.”
The bishops defended their decision, arguing that the revised amounts align with Portuguese jurisprudence and compensation granted in similar cases in European countries like France and Germany.
Victim Support Groups Denounce the Process
The Portuguese Victim Support Association (APAV), a secular organization that represents victims of all forms of crime, expressed dismay at the Church’s handling of the process. APAV’s spokeswoman, Carla Ferreira, criticized the bishops’ disregard for the technical experts’ recommendations.
“The commission was composed of seven legal experts,” Ferreira said. “They had specific technical expertise and established compensation amounts that the Church said it would not pay and decided to reduce.” She added that if financial limits existed, they “should have made that clear to the commission beforehand.”
Ferreira also raised concerns about victims being taxed on their payouts, saying the Church could have coordinated with the government to explore possible exemptions.
Victims Describe Renewed Trauma
For many survivors, the compensation process—promoted as a means of healing—has reopened old wounds.
Manuela Fernandes, who says she was first abused by a priest in 1968 when she was eight years old, told The Pillar she felt humiliated by the Church’s approach. “I am the victim here,” she said. “But I was forced to meet on the Church’s terms, in places it appointed, with people who worked for it. I felt like someone who was robbed and was being judged in the thief’s own home.”
Victims are also required to sign waivers preventing them from seeking future legal claims against the Church or their alleged abusers. Critics say this clause acts as a “gag order.” In an open letter on the website Sete Margens, one survivor wrote: “You’ve put a price on my pain, but it comes with silencing clauses. Silence was part of the violence, and it continues to hurt when it is demanded again.”
Unpunished Abusers and Lingering Injustice
Another woman who said she was raped by a priest while a novice in religious life received one of the highest awards—about €40,000. But she pointed out her alleged abuser faced no personal repercussions. A letter she received in 2023 from the bishop indicated the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith declined to lift the statute of limitations, citing her “fragile psychological state.”
The priest remains active in ministry. The bishop recommended only that he pray the Rosary daily, reduce social media use, and travel less.
Similar frustration was voiced by a woman from Braga, who alleged indecent behavior by Canon Fernando Sousa e Silva. Despite numerous accusations, the 93-year-old priest was recently cleared to resume ministry. “It’s ridiculous,” she said. “I’ll just avoid going to Church on days he celebrates Mass.”
A Church Divided Between Peace and Justice
Other victims expressed disillusionment but little hope for change. One man, abused at age 13, recalled reporting his experience to two successive bishops over the years. “They listened kindly,” he told The Pillar, “but nothing changed.”
Although he never sought compensation, he said he wanted to ensure “the situation was not forgotten.” Yet, decades later, he feels silence has been rewarded: “They always told me how they regretted what had happened to me, but what is that worth if they didn’t take any concrete action?”
Failing the Test of Transparency
Official data from the bishops’ conference indicates that 95 people applied for compensation, with 78 initially deemed eligible. Of those, 66 claims were approved—57 already finalized, nine still under review, and one awaiting a Vatican judgment.
For survivors like António Grosso, these numbers mask a deeper failure. “This was supposed to be about recognition and responsibility,” he said. “Instead, it feels like the Church is still trying to manage the story, not heal the wounds.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from The Pillar
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