The Roman Catholic Church in the
Netherlands is considering paying collective compensation to Dutch
victims of sexual abuse, documents obtained by Radio Netherlands
Worldwide reveal.
The bishops and heads of religious orders and congregations are
seeking advice on their legal position “concerning compensation
regarding sexual abuse committed by people working in the Roman Catholic
Church”.
The recommendations will be drawn up by a commission headed by
Siewert Lindenbergh, a law professor at the Erasmus University in
Rotterdam.
The two other commission members are personal injury lawyers.
They are expected to present their findings next spring.
Boarding school
The fact that the Church is thinking of paying collective compensation
emerges from documents on the abuse of pupil by seven priests, among
them the future Bishop Jan ter Schure.
The abuse took place between 1948
and 1953 at a boarding school run by the Salesians of Don Bosco in the
central Dutch village of Ugchelen.
In 2003 the Salesians paid the victim 16,000 euros in compensation.
Earlier this year the order postponed a decision on making an additional
payment until it became clear whether the Church would be paying
collective compensation.
Next week the Deetman enquiry will make an intermediate
recommendation on support for victims.
The Church has commissioned
Christian Democrat Wim Deetman to investigate sexual abuse in the
Catholic Church in the Netherlands.
It’s thought his recommendation may
refer to the need for a collective financial agreement.
SIC: RN/INT'L
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