Panel set up by Austria’s Catholic Church recommends up to €25,000 ($30,700) for abuse victims
By APFriday, June 25, 2010
Austrian church readies abuse compensation
VIENNA — A special panel set up by Austria’s Roman Catholic Church says it is recommending payments of up to euro25,000 ($30,700) to those abused by clergy or church officials.
Panel officials say they recommend euro5,000 in compensation for minor cases, euro15,000 for more serious ones and euro25,000 for extremely grave instances of mistreatment.
The head of the panel, Waltraud Klasnic, said Friday that Austria’s bishops have not yet dealt with the recommendations. But she said she is sure the recommendations will be accepted.
The panel of laypeople close to the church was set up in the wake of a series of revelations detailing sexual and physical abuse of minors and young adults by Roman Catholic Church employees in Europe and elsewhere.
