Portugal’s Catholic Church said Thursday it will pay a total of 1.6 million euros ($1.85 million) to 57 victims of sexual abuse committed by clergy, marking a step in its response to a sweeping national investigation.

A Church-backed commission concluded in February 2023 that at least 4,815 children and vulnerable adults were abused over the past 70 years, with most cases involving priests. The findings exposed the scale of misconduct within the Church and intensified pressure for accountability.

In a statement, the Portuguese Bishops’ Conference acknowledged the harm done, saying financial compensation cannot undo the damage suffered by victims but reiterating an apology for the abuse.

The compensation process drew 95 applications, of which 67 were deemed eligible. So far, 57 claims have been approved, with individual payouts ranging between 9,000 and 45,000 euros. The remaining applicants were either disqualified for failing to meet requirements or did not complete the process.

Nine additional cases are still under review to determine final compensation amounts.

The payouts represent part of the Church’s broader effort to address past abuse, though critics have argued that financial settlements alone fall short of delivering full accountability for decades of misconduct.