"First of all, I think it is an issue that obviously shocks the whole of society, that disturbs us all, above all because it does not only signal abuse of children within the Church, or in the spaces of the Church, but because it is a reality that is more transversal to society", said António Costa.

The prime minister said that the ministers of Justice and Labour, Solidarity, and Social Security will meet and also with the Independent Commission for the Study of Sexual Abuse of Children in the Catholic Church.

"The Minister of Justice, the Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security will also meet with the Commission because I think there are a set of lessons to be learned for other areas because surely that reality did not happen only in that specific context".

António Costa also highlighted that the Church had "courage" and "transparency" to develop this work in depth.

"I think that the Church had great courage, great transparency, great daring to carry out this work in-depth, but that obliges us all to question ourselves about other domains, other spaces", added the prime minister.

The Independent Commission for the Study of Sexual Abuse of Children in the Catholic Church has received 512 validated testimonies concerning 4,815 victims since it took office in January 2022, announced its coordinator, Pedro Strecht, when presenting the report on Monday.

The cases of sexual abuse revealed throughout 2022 shook the Church and Portuguese society itself, similar to what had happened with similar initiatives in other countries, with alleged cases of a cover-up by the religious hierarchy prompting apologies.


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