The statements made this Tuesday by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who said he did not take into account the number of 424 testimonies that the Independent Commission for the Study of Sexual Abuse Against Children in the Portuguese Catholic Church has already received “particularly high”, arouse outrage. in social networks and among the political class.
Pedro Filipe Soares, deputy of the Left Bloc, said the position of the president of the republic is “an insult to the more than 400 victims”.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s position is an insult to more than 400 victims
— Pedro Filipe Soares (@PedroFgSoares) October 11, 2022
Former recorder player Moisés Ferreira said that “Marcelo’s submission at the top of the Catholic Church cannot be the submission of the Republic”. “400 cases of sexual abuse are 400 extra cases. A rule of law must protect these victims and do justice. Never belittle them,” he wrote on Twitter.
Marcelo’s submission to the leadership of the Catholic Church cannot be the submission of the Republic. 400 cases of sexual abuse is 400 more cases. A constitutional state must protect these victims and do justice. Never belittle them.
— moises ferreira (@moisesscf) October 11, 2022
On the other side of the Assembly of the Republic, André Ventura called Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s statements “unfortunate”. “A victim of sexual abuse, even one, would be very serious. The country should apologize to the victims – including the president – and not downplay their suffering,” the Chega leader tweeted.
What unfortunate statements by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa! A victim of sexual abuse, even just one, would be very serious. The country must apologize to the victims – and also to the President – and not belittle their suffering!
— André Ventura (@AndreCVentura) October 11, 2022
Also on the right, the Liberal Initiative deeply regrets the behavior of the President of the Republic in the case of sexual abuse of minors within the church. “The president shows that he is more concerned with exonerating and relativizing the seriousness of the behavior of various elements of the Catholic Church than with the victims of the heinous acts. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa owes an apology to the victims and to the country,” the liberals wrote in the Facebook.
One of the IL deputies, Carlos Guimarães Pinto, also spoke out on Twitter. “The President of the Republic owes an apology to the country and the victims for the unfortunate statements. And it is not even worth discussing whether the number is underestimated, because there are still many complaints to be filed. Even if that is not the case case, the statements are unacceptable,” he said.
The President of the Republic apologizes to the country and the victims for the unfortunate statements. And it’s not even worth arguing if the number is underestimated, because many complaints go unanswered. Even if it wasn’t, the explanations are unacceptable.
— CGP (@carlosgpinto) October 11, 2022
Also via Twitter, the PAN spokeswoman, Inês Sousa Real, said that “a serious matter was serious, very serious and reprehensible, let alone 400!”.
“The devaluation by the President of the Republic of the sexual abuse of minors in the church is incomprehensible and the contact he has made with Bishop José Ornelas over the complaint is unacceptable,” he criticized.
1 case that was serious, very serious and objectionable, let alone 400!
The President of the Republic’s devaluation of the sexual abuse of minors in the Church by the President of the Republic is incomprehensible and the contact he has made with Bishop José Ornelas over the complaint is unacceptable.– Ines de Sousa Real (@lnes_Sousa_Real) October 11, 2022
For Livre, Rui Tavares addressed Marcelo directly: “Mr. President, imagine all the suffering and courage it took 400 people to share the stories of abuse that they have kept for years. Your statements may result in that. suffering is minimized and those who are are still seeking the strength to speak”.
Mr. President, imagine all the suffering and courage it took 400 people to share the stories of abuse they have held for years. Their statements may have the effect of minimizing this suffering and discouraging those who still seek the power to speak.
— rui tavares (@ruitavares) October 11, 2022
PS deputy Isabel Moreira also called Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s position “unacceptable”.
Church abuse: “400 cases in millions is not particularly high,” President says https://t.co/lyTZwCWKAE via @to express – unacceptable.
— Isabel Moreira (@IsabelLMMoreira) October 11, 2022
Asked by journalists about this number of testimonies released today by the Independent Commission for the Study of Child Sexual Abuse in the Portuguese Catholic Church, the President of the Republic replied: “I am not surprised”.
The head of state said he has followed the work of this committee and emphasized that “there is no time limit for these complaints” that are collected, some “from people aged 90, 80 and who file complaints about what is 60 or 70 or 80 years old.” past”.
“It means that we are faced with a universe of people who have had relationships with the Catholic Church of millions or many hundreds of thousands,” added the President of the Republic, concluding: “Having 400 cases does not seem particularly high to me, because in other countries and with smaller horizons there were thousands of cases.”
According to Pedro Strecht, coordinator of the independent commission for the study of sexual abuse against children in the Portuguese Catholic Church, “424 testimonies have been collected so far”, but “the minimum number of victims will be much greater than four hundred and the abuses include all forms described in Portuguese law”.
Source: DN
