The Portuguese Episcopal Conference, led by Bishop José Ornelas, has condemned the taxation of compensation payments made to victims of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, labeling the practice as ethically unacceptable.
Abuse in the Church: the State taxes pain

Context & Explainers
José Ornelas is the Bishop of Leiria-Fátima and the current President of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference (Conferência Episcopal Portuguesa or CEP). He has held this leadership role since 2023, representing the Catholic Church in Portugal on national issues.
The Portuguese Episcopal Conference (Conferência Episcopal Portuguesa or CEP) is the official body representing the Catholic bishops of Portugal. It coordinates the church's stance on social, moral, and legal issues, often engaging with the government on matters affecting institutional policy and public ethics.
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Other news coverage of this topic
- Catholic Church opposes IRS on compensation for sexual abuse victims • Correio da Manhã
- President of the CEP considers taxing compensation for abuse victims to be "ethically unacceptable" • RTP Notícias
- Taxing compensation for abuse victims is not acceptable • Observador
- José Ornelas: Taxing compensation for Church abuse victims is not "ethically acceptable" • Expresso
- President of the CEP says taxing compensation for victims of sexual abuse in the Church is not "ethically acceptable" • Correio da Manhã









