French bishops agree to compensate sex abuse victims

PARIS (AP) — France’s Catholic Church has announced its decision to financially compensate sex abuse victims by selling property assets and if needed, taking out a loan. French bishops said in a written statement on Monday that they will set up an “independent, national body” tasked with addressing compensation issues. They committed to allocating money to a specific fund “in order to compensate victims.” The president of France’s Bishops Conference, Eric de Moulins-Beaufort,  hailed a “decisive step” in a speech.  He said that the Church has recognized its “institutional responsibility” and decided to go on “a path of recognition and reparation” that paves the way for victims to possibly receive compensation.