Church leader opposes taxing abuse victim compensation
José Ornelas, president of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference (Conferência Episcopal Portuguesa or CEP), stated that taxing compensation payments for victims of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church is ethically unacceptable. He confirmed that the CEP is currently working to address the issue, arguing that these reparations should remain tax-exempt. Ornelas also recently criticized the use of religious rhetoric to justify hate speech or the exclusion of minorities.
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.
