The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, this Friday hosted the Independent Commission that investigates sexual harassment in the church and appealed to the victims to testify and exercise their right to report.
Marcelo said he attaches “great importance to this commission”, which, together with experts, investigates cases of sexual violence.
“By collecting anonymous testimony and building trust with those who testify, they then pass this information on to the authorities,” said Marcelo Rebelo de Souza, who ensured that “the Portuguese must help in the search for justice.”
The head of state also said that “it is shocking that there are such crimes.”
Asked if he had already had the opportunity to discuss the sexual assault cases with D. Manuel Clemente, with whom Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is friends, the President of the Republic suggested that he “did not have the opportunity to discuss the case with anyone”, adding that it was work Commission and this must be done anonymously.
Marcelo also acknowledged that the church would have to take action on complaints and acknowledged that no compensation request had been made to the Independent Commission so far.
Source: CM Jornal
