Eight cases of abuse that occurred in seven municipalities on four islands of the Azores were reported to the Independent Commission for the Study of Sexual Abuse of Children in the Catholic Church.

According to the report, available at https://darvozaosilencio.org/, the Commission received testimonies of abuse situations on the islands of Terceira, São Jorge, Faial and Pico: Angra do Heroísmo (1 case), Praia da Vitória (1 case), Calheta de São Jorge (1 case), Velas (2 cases), Faial (1 case), Lajes do Pico (1 case) and São Roque do Pico (1 case).
Also according to the report, there are currently victims living in three municipalities of the Azores (Ponta Delgada, Angra do Heroísmo and Velas).
The current Bishop of Angra, D. Armando Esteves Domingues, expressed, in a statement to journalists, “deep shame and even pain, which, however, can in no way compare to the pain of the victims.”

Addressing the victims, the bishop said he understands "pain, revolt and anger”, stressing that "we would not expect that this reality of abuse in the Church would grow so much, as we see in the report."

"At no time would I want you to feel alone – you are not alone," he assured. “The Independent Commission has finished its work, but the Diocese will continue listening, welcoming, to whoever asks for it”. Domingues reiterated that the Diocese of Angra is committed "to avoid that what we are lamenting today does not happen again," assuring that "there will be zero tolerance" in these situations.

"If anyone wants to come to me, I will be available with the Diocesan Commission", assured D. Armando Esteves Domingues.

To the abusers, the Bishop of Angra appealed: "assume with dignity, and in truth, the faults committed, seeking to repair with dignity what were those faults of life. "As far as the Church is concerned, it will assume the consequences, whether in the civil, criminal or moral fields. Asking forgiveness from God is not enough; it will also be necessary to ask forgiveness from the victims," he stressed.

"We will do everything so that [these abuses] are eradicated definitively, not only in the Church, but also in society," he also assumed.

D. Armando Esteves Domingues said that, based on the work of the Independent Commission, the Diocese intends to "study strategies for the future", adding that "some strategies are already in place. However, we also found that, perhaps, not everyone has made their complaint and would like to do so".

"Even if there are crimes are time-barred, for the Church there is no time-limit", stressed the Bishop of Angra, who also stated that "we want to continue to listen to people, to gather, to accompany, to respond to what they need".

Diocese will have access to the names at the end of the month
The Bishop of Angra explained that he only had access to the final report of the Independent Commission, where the names of the abusers are not disclosed.

In the report, "the victims are divided by several islands, but the Commission does not disclose names –none of us have them; they will be given to the Portuguese Episcopal Conference, later this month; and from there we will have to plan what to do," explained D. Armando Esteves Domingues.

"Each case will be analyzed. It may even happen – since a very long period is covered, from 1950 to 2022 – that some people have already passed away. But we will analyze case by case, then we will see what the picture is and what path to follow," he said.

According to the Bishop of Angra, the Commission was also in the Diocese studying the archives for three days. They did not find any new data, but obtained interesting data for the final report that analyzes the practices that were in place.

In relation to the procedures to be adopted regarding the abuses reported, the Bishop said that "if any case is be sent to the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Independent Commission has already done so. But in canonical terms there are no time-limits”.

Diocesan Commission has not received any report of abuse
The Bishop of Angra revealed that "no complaint has reached the Diocese", namely through the Diocesan Commission for Prevention and Accompaniment of possible cases of sexual abuse of minors by clergy.

The coordinator of the Diocesan Commission, Maria do Sameiro Amaral, explained that this commission was established more than a year ago and has not received "any case". This could be due to "the fact that people have felt more confident in referring to the Independent Commission".

Maria do Sameiro Amaral stressed that the Diocesan Commission will remain active and, as such, "anyone who still wants to denounce a case can come to us", through the number 960212625 or by email (protecaomenores@igrejaacores.pt), guaranteeing that the anonymity of the victim is maintained.

The responsible also said that even those who have already presented a complaint to the Independent Commission may do so to the Diocesan Commission, so that it can be accompanied by the latter.

"The Commission is made up of about ten people and we are all lay people. Our first concern is always to help the victim”, she further stated.