STA, 20 May 2019 - Three months after being launched, a civil initiative fighting sexual abuse in the Catholic Church and providing assistance to victims has received reports about 15 priests who allegedly abused 25 victims. Criminal complaints have been filed against seven priests so far.
Talking to the press on Monday, Matej Križanič of Dovolj.je (It's Enough) said that 14 of the victims were male and 11 female; 15 of them were underage. Most of them came from Ljubljana.
Križanič, a permanent deacon and assistant director of the Bežigrad Social Services, said that the initiative had filed criminal complaints against seven priests.
He added that a support group for victims would be established in October, led by two acclaimed therapists.
"After three months of listening to many testimonies, we are even more determined to go all the way in supporting the victims," said Igor Vovk, the director of Catholic portal Iskreni.net.
A victim of sexual abuse also talked at the press conference. She said she had decided to speak out to encourage other victims.
Expressing disappointment that her molester faced no sanctions and was still allowed to work with youths, she revealed his name. The priest in question started working in the Murska Sobota diocese this year.
