Church abuse inquiry to take up to 18 months

The inquiry into the sexual and physical abuse of children by members of the Catholic church will take between one year and 18 months, the Volkskrant reports on Friday.


The church-backed inquiry is being carried out by an independent commission, headed by CDA stalwart Wim Deetman.
Speaking on Friday, Deetman said he wanted the inquiry to have academic underpinnings, and throw light on the cause, size and conditions surrounding the abuse scandal.
The aim is to help the victims and to take steps to make sure such abuse does not happen again in the future, he said. The inquiry team comprises two psychologists, a former judge, a historian and philosopher.
Scandal
The far-ranging investigation was ordered by Catholic bishops in February following mounting reports of abuse by priests at schools and seminaries in the 1960s and 1970s.
Since the end of February when newspapers reported claims of abuse at a boarding school in ‘s-Heerenberg in the 1960s and 1970s, over 1,500 people have come forward.

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