The Spanish government has approved a plan to provide reparation and economic compensation to victims of sex abuse committed by individuals connected to the Catholic Church. The plan, based on recommendations from a report by Spain’s Ombudsman, aims to address the long-standing issue of abuse within the church. It is estimated that around 440,000 adults in Spain may have suffered sex abuse by people linked to the church, with roughly half of the cases committed by clergy.
The Minister of the Presidency and Justice, Félix Bolaños, announced that the compensation for victims would be financed by the church. The plan also includes a future public act of recognition for those affected and their families. However, the Spain’s Bishops Conference rejected the plan, stating that it discriminated against victims outside of church circles. No specific details regarding the amount or timing of financial compensation were provided, and a date for the public act of recognition has not been set.
Despite years of neglecting the issue, Spain’s bishops have apologized for the abuses committed by church members following the Ombudsman’s report. However, they disputed the number of victims involving the church as exaggerated. The report accused the church of widespread negligence in addressing the issue of sex abuse. The government aims to collaborate with the church to implement the plan over the next four years, which will include free legal assistance for all victims of sexual abuse and reinforcement of prevention supervision in schools.
The plan seeks to “settle a debt with those victims who for decades were forgotten by everyone,” according to Bolaños. He emphasized that addressing the issue of sex abuse and providing compensation to victims is a central part of government policy. The government hopes to work closely with the church to ensure the success of the plan over the next few years. Only a few countries have initiated government-led inquiries into clergy sex abuse, highlighting the significance of Spain’s decision to address this long-standing issue. Some independent groups have also conducted their own investigations into sex abuse within the church.
