The Catholic Church in France has embarked on a significant endeavor to provide reparations to victims of child sexual abuse perpetrated by priests or other representatives of the church. An independent body overseeing this process announced on Thursday that hundreds of victims have already received financial compensation as part of this comprehensive program.
According to the annual report released by the Independent National Authority for Recognition and Reparation, a total of 1,351 individuals have come forward to seek compensation and psychological support to address the profound traumas inflicted upon them during their childhood.
During a press conference, Marie Derain de Vaucresson, the head of the body, revealed that the average age of the victims who have stepped forward is 61. Among them, 66% are men and 34% are women. This claims process was initiated in 2022, aiming to acknowledge and address the suffering endured by survivors of abuse within the Catholic Church.
As of now, the reparations authority has approved compensation claims for 489 victims, with 88 individuals receiving the maximum compensation of 60,000 euros ($65,000). Last year, the authority approved compensation for 358 victims, with each person receiving an average amount of 35,310 euros.
The decision by France’s Catholic bishops’ conference to provide reparations was prompted by a 2021 report which revealed alarming statistics: an estimated 330,000 children had been sexually abused over a span of 70 years by priests and other figures associated with the church.
These figures were derived from comprehensive research conducted by France’s National Institute of Health and Medical Research on child sexual abuse.
The report highlighted a pervasive pattern of cover-ups by church officials and emphasized the importance of the French Catholic Church adhering to the rule of law in addressing these atrocities.
Once compensation claims are approved by the reparations authority, they are channeled to a dedicated fund established by the church for disbursal.
Many of those who reached out to the authority reported enduring severe crimes, including repeated rape. The report disclosed that in 39% of the cases, the abuse persisted for over a year, while in 12% of the cases, the abusers continued to manipulate their victims psychologically for up to five years following the last physical assault.
The victims, who were between the ages of 6 and 15 when the abuse occurred, are now receiving various forms of support beyond financial compensation. This includes assistance in documenting their experiences, meetings with local church representatives, and memorialization efforts such as the installation of plaques in honor of the victims.
Currently, 780 victims are benefiting from the support provided by the authority, which extends to facilitating communication with deceased abusers or addressing strained relationships with family members.
Most significantly, this support includes providing a space for victims—many of whom are now in their 60s, 70s, or 80s—to finally break their silence and share their experiences after years of repression.
