Portugal Public Prosecutor archives all recent clerical abuse complaints

The Portuguese Public Prosecutor's Office has archived approximately 70 complaints regarding sexual abuse of minors by priests reported over the last four years. None of the cases submitted to the Attorney General's Office have resulted in formal legal indictments.

According to reports, the dismissals are primarily due to the statute of limitations having expired, as many alleged incidents occurred during the 1980s and 1990s. In other instances, prosecutors cited a lack of sufficient evidence to proceed with formal charges. While Portuguese law allows for prosecution until a victim reaches the age of 25, many complaints were filed many years after the reported events. Some cases could not proceed because witnesses or the accused priests had already passed away.

The complaints originated from various sources, including 25 anonymous reports via the Independent Commission for the Study of Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church and 28 through Grupo Vita. Other cases were brought through diocesan protection commissions, particularly within the Patriarchate of Lisbon.