Roman Catholic Church says "no obligation" to report child abuse by priests
PR dla Zagranicy
Aleksander Nowacki
25.03.2015 15:11
The Roman Catholic Church will not report cases of child abuse by priests as a matter of policy, the spokesperson for the Polish Episcopate said.
Father Jozef Kloch. Photo: Polskie Radio
“There is no such obligation,” Father Józef Kloch said in an interview with on TOK FM radio. “Such a victim is told they have the right to report it to the prosecutors. That is the correct way.”
The Church has settled a case with Marcin K., a victim of abuse who sued his diocese for PLN 200,000 (EUR 50,000) and public apologies. The settlement envisages financial help for therapy of the victim, which the TOK FM alleges amounts to PLN 150,000.
Marcin K.’s lawyer said the settlement shows the Church’s position that it does not bear legal responsibility for the actions of individual priests is no longer sustainable. (an)
Source: Gazeta Wyborcza/ TOK FM