German church pay abuse victims

- The Catholic Church in Germany has spent the past five years a total of 6.4 million euros was paid to victims of sexual abuse. More than a thousand people received financial compensation. According to a survey the newspaper Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung held in all 27 dioceses in Germany.

The church also contributed to the costs incurred by some victims for psychological help. The Catholic Church in 2011 made possible the victims could apply for financial compensation. Most of the applications came from the diocese of Muenster, where 122 of the 129 requests were honored.

The sexual abuse revealed in most cases barred criminal. More than 860 clergy and lay people who worked for the church, have been accused of abuse.