GERMANY
The Local
Victims of child abuse at the hands of Regensburg cathedral choir priests and teachers are set to receive compensation ranging between €5,000 to €20,000 by the end of next year.
A scandal that first emerged into the public light in 2010 will soon see some good news for hundreds of victims, as the Regensburg diocese announced on Wednesday it would be offering them each between €5,000 and €20,000 in compensation.
“This is a sign that we take this very seriously,” Regensburg bishop Rudolf Voderholzer said at a joint press conference with victims groups, according to the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
“You should believe that this causes me pain, that every single case hurts my soul… I cannot undo what was done, and can only ask those affected for forgiveness.”
As of this month, 422 former singers in the cathedral’s boys’ choir have come forward to report abuse to an investigative team, which began examining the reports last year in cooperation with the diocese.
The church and victims’ groups also plan to set up an independent counseling centre for those affected. This was something the victim advocacy groups had strongly requested, so that those who were abused would not have to turn to someone from the Catholic church, or someone related to it, for help.
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