The French Roman Catholic Church plans to sell some of its assets to compensate victims of sexual abuse by its clergy. The announcement Monday comes just a month after a published report exposed the proliferation of sexual abuse within the French Church spanning decades.
The archbishop of Reims and the Bishops' Conference of France president, Éric de Moulins-Beaufort, said the move would ensure that no victim is left behind. The measure has been praised by some of the victims and rights groups, stating that it was a significant step forward.
Archbishop de Moulins-Beaufort said the Church will liquidate assets, including real estate, and may even take out a loan if necessary. Each victim would also be rewarded individually, which was an initial demand from victims organizations, who had previously rejected recommendations for a fixed settlement amount.
Victims groups claimed that each case deserved to be considered on its own merits. Some abuse victims claim they need to reclaim years of medical expenditures and other costs related to the abuse's effects.
The bishops said Monday that while parishioners can still give money directly to the compensation fund, regular parishioner donations, which account for a substantial amount of the Catholic Church's revenue in France, will not be utilized.
The French Church said that they would closely monitor the execution of the measures announced Monday, including the formation of an independent compensation organization to handle victims' claims. The reparations organization will reportedly be led by Marie Derain de Vaucresson, a legal expert specializing in children's rights.
The bishops also stated that they want to form working groups led by laypeople to develop tangible solutions on topics such as priest training by 2023. De la parole aux actes, an association of victim groups formed following the release of the damning report, said they hope the measure will be implemented successfully.
The report released last month exposed the systemic abuse within the French Church over the past 70 years. The report estimated that between 200,000 and 300,000 children were abused by clergy members and people affiliated with the Church over the past seven decades. The report cited actual victim testimony, surveys, archival analysis, and other credible sources.
Last week, 120 bishops in France acknowledged that the Church bore an "institutional responsibility" for the abuses and that it must enact measures towards change.
