Poland's Church Will Not Pay Child Sex Victims

A spokesman for Poland's Catholic Church says it will not pay compensation to victims of priests who sexually abused children.

The Rev. Jozef Kloch said in comments aired by Polish Radio 1 on Friday that the responsibility for compensation lies with the perpetrator.

Kloch was reacting to a 200,000 zlotys ($64,000) claim made by a 25-year-old victim against his parish and local church authorities after they failed to reach a settlement.

Kloch says "the Church will not pay compensation to victims of pedophile priests. The wrongdoer should do it."

Some 27 priests have been convicted in Poland of abusing children. Authorities in the Dominican Republic are investigating allegations that two Polish priests there, including a Vatican envoy, abused boys.