Christian World | Portugal's Catholic bishops' president Virgílio Antunes said an affordable home must not stay a dream deferred, as payments to 11 more abuse victims near completion

ACW | November 9, 2026 — The head of Portugal's Catholic bishops said on Monday the Church cannot stay indifferent to the "anguish" of families who cannot afford a home, as he opened the bishops' plenary assembly in Fátima.

Concrete answers are needed so that "a decent and affordable home does not remain a dream deferred," Bishop Virgílio Antunes of Coimbra, president of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference, said, according to the Church-run Ecclesia news agency. "A home is more than a place to live," he said.

Access to housing "is not exhausted by public policy or the workings of the market," Antunes said, according to the Lusa news agency. "We cannot do everything, but we cannot fail to do what is within our reach."

On compensation for victims of sexual abuse in Portugal's Catholic Church, he said "no compensation can repair the suffering experienced by the victims." Ecclesia reported that 57 victims were compensated in the first phase and that payments on 11 later requests, totalling 255,000 euros, are being completed.

Finishing the payments does not mean "the problem has ended" or that the Church's responsibility is over, Antunes said. The bishops are setting a new phase focused on prevention and the protection of minors and vulnerable adults, Ecclesia said. The assembly runs until Thursday.

Background: Housing protests began in Porto on Oct. 10 and spread to Lisbon and other cities, Lusa reported. Police removed protesters' tents, with dozens detained and dozens injured. Pope Leo earlier urged French bishops to stand by abuse victims.

Why it matters: As of Nov. 9, 2026, Portugal's Catholic Church had compensated 57 abuse victims and was completing 255,000 euros in payments on 11 more requests, Ecclesia reported — a step the bishops' president said does not end the Church's responsibility.

ACW will continue to follow this story.

Sources: Ecclesia news agency — bishops' president on housing; Ecclesia news agency — compensation for abuse victims; Lusa (via RTP) — Church on housing

Photo: Ecclesia news agency