RNW – Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Published on 29 September 2010 – 9:52pm
Victims of sexual abuse during the 1960s and 1970s by members of a Franciscan order in the Dutch province of Limburg are to receive compensation. The Franciscan order has long been dismantled in the town of Kerkrade, the monks ran a boys’ boarding school, St Maria ter Engelen.
The Franciscan order which is based in Germany has written to 46 victims of sexual abuse informing them of the decision. The amount is yet to be determined.
The Franciscan order set up a school for Dutch and German boys in Kerkrade in 1875. In 1918, Dutch monks took over the work from their German brothers. Only two are known to be still alive. The victims of sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergymen have joined forces in the organisation Mea Culpa United.
The Dutch government has set up the Deetman commission to investigate sexual abuse in the Catholic church since the 1960s after several cases came to light earlier this year. Over 900 cases have now been reported.
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