More than 400 cases of sexual abuse by clergy have been reported in the Netherlands since 1995.

The allegations were made on Friday night by television programme Zembla. Among the victims are people who sought council from both Catholic priests and Protestant ministers. The offenders include clergy holding a variety of functions and ranks.

So far only 200 complaints have been filed, 95 of which were deemed concluded. Zembla says churches have been keen to hush up all the cases. The programme found that the independent committee handling the complains of Catholic victims last year resigned en bloc. The committe members felt that, rather than helping the victims, they were being pressured to protect the church against any claims.

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