Dutch bishops: “shame and sorrow” at abuse

16 December 2011

An independent report on sexual abuse at Dutch Catholic institutions has drawn widespread media coverage, both at home and abroad. The Dutch justice minister has expressed shock and the Dutch Catholic authorities have offered apologies.

Between 10,000 and 20,000 children suffered abuse at Catholic schools, seminaries and orphanages, the Deetman inquiry found. The report identifies 800 offenders.

The bishops and the Congregation of Dutch Religious have voiced shock and have offered their apologies. A bishops’ statement said: “We express our apologies for the abuse. It fills us with shame and sorrow. Not only the offenders deserve blame but so do the clerical authorities who failed to act accurately and failed to put the interest of and care for the victims first.”

The Congregation of Dutch Religious is the organisation of religious orders, congregations, abbeys and monasteries. In a statement, the bishops say they intend to make a personal effort to improve support for the victims and want to involve the victims themselves in that process. They also say they wish to take measures to make sexual abuse a topic that can be discussed openly. the rest