THE HAGUE, Netherlands, DEC. 19, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Following the release Friday of a report into sexual abuses by clergy in Holland the country’s bishops have expressed their sorrow for what happened, promising justice and support for victims.
The Commission Deetman investigated abuses against minors committed from 1945 to 2010. The commission was set up by the Church and it surveyed some 34,000 people. It found that the great majority of the abuses took place in the years prior to 1981, after which due to changes in the laws there were fewer Church-run homes for minors. The commission estimated that between 10,000 to 20,000 minors were abused.
According to a report published by Vatican Radio, Church authorities in Holland admitted that in the past they had not always given sufficient priority to the victims when dealing with this problem.
The Church authorities also admitted that not only were the minors victims of abuses that brought upon them terrible suffering, but also that their families, who had trusted the Church and its priests, were badly affected.
They reaffirmed their position that any form of sexual abuse is completely opposed to human dignity and to the Gospel. Such abuse will always be condemned and has no place in the Church. The Church in Holland committed itself to implementing necessary canonical measures, and taking all the juridical steps necessary as required by Dutch law.
