The Icelandic National Church has decided to offer the four women who accused former Bishop Ólafur Skúlason, now deceased, compensations; the four women accused the bishop of sexual offenses but their claims were dismissed until last year.
The first accusation was made in 1996 by Sigrún Pálína Ingvarsdóttir. Her claim was dismissed until last year when the current Bishop of Iceland Karl Sigurbjörnsson apologized on behalf of the church.
The amount to be paid to the four victims will be based on damages paid to individuals institutionalized in church-run homes as children, Morgunbladid reports.
Random Church in Iceland. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.
“The amount to be paid has not been settled yet therefore no comments can be made in regards to the actual amount each woman is to receive,” Magnús E. Kristjánsson, the chairman of the Amelioration Commission told Morgunbladid.
The compensations are an acknowledgement of the church’s wrongful reception and the handling of affairs when the women came forward.
“The compensations are not an acknowledgement of the former bishop’s guilt, ” Pétur H. Hafstein, chairman of the Church Council, told eyjan.is.
According to eyjan.is the women are expected to receive an amount in the vicinity of ISK 4.000.000 to ISK 5.000.000.
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