$144,000 per instance of abuse?

AMSTERDAM -- A church-appointed commission has recommended that victims of clergy sexual abuse be paid up to $144,000 by the church, depending on the gravity of the offense.

A panel of three judges -- known as the Lindenbergh commission after its chairman, Siewert Lindenbergh, a civil law professor at Erasmus University in Rotterdam -- also said victims should receive apologies, assistance and recognition for their suffering.

A spokesman for the Dutch bishops said they and the conference of religious would study the recommendations.

The Lindenbergh Commission was set up after nearly 2,000 people complained of sexual abuse by Catholic priests -- dating to 1945 -- during an inquiry by another church-appointed commission last year.