The committee investigating sexual abuse by officials in the Roman Catholic church in the Netherlands has been criticised for a lack of independence.

The Netherlands organisation of abuse victims says that professor Marit Monteiro, a member of the committee, has close ties to religious bodies. She once worked for the Dominican Order, whose members are among the suspects under investigation. The chairman of the committee, former Lower House Speaker Wim Deetman, said in a written statement that Professor Monteiro is beyond reproach and totally independent.

The victims' organisation criticised the committee before, pointing out that the Roman Catholic church itself appointed it.

Sexual abuse of children by priests and nuns in Roman Catholic boarding schools is being investigated following a series of publications by Radio Netherlands Worldwide and daily NRC Handelsblad.

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