Summary
New Portuguese Church leader tackles abuse reforms and school funding battles
The new president of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference, Virgílio Antunes, believes the Catholic Church's approach to sexual abuse cases sets an example for other institutions in Portugal.
Interview
In an interview with Lusa, Virgílio Antunes emphasized the seriousness with which the Church has addressed the identification of abuse cases, calling it a learning process for the institution. He highlighted the approval of internal oversight mechanisms, training programs, the handover of cases to the Public Prosecutor's Office, and psychological support and financial compensation for victims—regardless of individual legal actions.
"This has also been a learning experience—for the Church, for the bishops, for the victims themselves, and for society as a whole," he said, praising the Church's "direct and forthright" approach. He expressed hope that this model would be "replicated in many other sectors of society where this problem has existed in the past and may arise in the future."
"It is impossible to resolve every issue in the heart of each person, even if the processes are highly secure, well-structured, and properly conducted," admitted Antunes, who also serves as the bishop of Coimbra and was elected to lead the Church in Portugal just over a week ago.
Victims of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church will receive compensation ranging from €9,000 to €45,000. To date, 57 claims have been approved, with nine more awaiting final amounts, totaling €1.6 million in payouts so far.
The Portuguese Church will now assess whether to maintain the VITA Group—a psychological support structure for victims—and diocesan commissions, with the ongoing goal of "eradicating all forms of abuse" and providing "care, treatment, and support for those who have been victims."
"We will soon hold a meeting to outline the future," Antunes said, after consulting all parties following the completion of the compensation process, which is already underway. This was one of the key issues under his predecessor, José Ornelas, and it will now fall to Antunes to develop strategies to prevent new cases.
"The matter of compensation is part of a much broader issue," he explained. It was a way for the Church to demonstrate that it "listens to the testimonies of those who came forward, often with great suffering," after years of suppressing their pain.
The compensation, he added, is a "sign" that will "help some people know the Church has not forgotten them" and is even willing to provide financial support to improve their lives—offering them "greater peace of mind and inner tranquility."
Antunes was elected president of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference on June 14 during a plenary assembly, with Portugal's bishops choosing the then-vice president and bishop of Coimbra to serve from 2026 to 2029.
In the same interview, Antunes welcomed the repeal of Portugal's gender identity law and expressed hope that the government would reopen debate on the education model, including association contracts. He argued it would not be "fair to allow minors to make decisions about gender transition without certain safeguards in place."
Last week, bills from the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Chega, and Livre were approved to overturn the existing law, which guaranteed the right to self-determination of gender identity and expression, as well as protection of sexual characteristics, while imposing restrictions on minors and requiring medical evaluations.
"We must exercise great caution when addressing issues that challenge the very structure of humanity, when we intervene in the human person," Antunes justified.
In an interview with Lusa, the Bishop of Coimbra—elected last week as president of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference (CEP)—also expressed hope that the government would increase funding for social programs. "We expect funding for co-payment agreements through the Social Security Institute to be expanded, particularly for private social solidarity institutions (IPSS), many of which—or most of which—fall under the Church's oversight," he said, noting that these organizations face chronic underfunding.
"We cannot allow social action in Portugal to wither," he emphasized, adding that this also depends on "the attention the state gives to this reality through the government and the Social Security Institute."
On education, Bishop Virgílio Antunes criticized state policies that have favored cooperative and private schools while placing many Catholic schools in financial jeopardy by terminating long-standing partnership agreements. "Clearly, as a society and as the Church, we want an education system that respects all sectors—public, private, and cooperative," he stressed.
However, he noted that "private institutions have faced immense difficulties in sustaining education, as many of the so-called partnership contracts from the past were canceled, driving numerous educational institutions in Portugal to ruin." The CEP president reiterated the Church's stance: "We continue to believe that freedom in education must not only be respected but actively fostered."
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