Dutch religious leaders ordered on Tuesday a "broad, external and independent" investigation of alleged sexual abuses of children by Catholic priests, and apologised to victims.
"An investigation will be opened as soon as possible," Dutch Religious Conference spokesman Will van de Ven said after a meeting to discuss abuse claims by about 200 alleged victims dating from the 1960s and 1970s.
"To the victims of abuse in Catholic boarding schools, the religious leaders and bishops offer their deep felt condolences and apologies," a statement added.
The Dutch Catholic Church announced last week it would probe claims that pupils at a monastery school in the eastern Netherlands were sexually abused by priests 40 to 50 years ago.
The announcement of the investigation, focused on three possible victims at the Don Rua monastery in the town of Heerenberg, prompted dozens more alleged victims from other institutions to come forward in recent days.
Today the Dutch Bishops' Conference and the Dutch Religious Conference (KNR) met in the central city of Utrecht to discuss the claims, which they described as "painful".
"The bishops and the KNR management are deeply touched by the gripping accounts of sexual abuse that have come forward in recent days," said a joint statement.
"All forms of sexual abuse have to be condemned in the strongest possible terms. It is contrary to the gospel and the dignity of human beings.
- Indian Journalist.
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