Spain’s Catholic Church apologizes for child sexual abuse

Spain’s Catholic Church on Tuesday issued an apology to victims of sexual abuse by priests, while also expressing reservations about the accuracy of a recent survey that suggests such abuse may be more widespread nationwide than previous reports have suggested. investigations.

The survey, included in a report by the Spanish Ombudsman for Human Rights and released last Friday, revealed that 0.6% of just over 8,000 respondents reported experiencing abuse. This figure rose to 1.1% when laity were accounted for, including teachers in Catholic schools.

After an extraordinary meeting, the Spanish Bishops’ Conference expressed its deep regret for the harm caused by some members of the Church through sexual abuse and reiterated its request for forgiveness from the victims.

The Catholic Church has faced sex abuse scandals in several countries, including the United States, Ireland and France, in recent decades. However, the issue only became a matter of public debate in Spain, where almost 60% of the population identifies as Catholic, after a major media survey in 2021.

The Conference, which the Ombudsman criticized for not fully cooperating with the inquiry, said it had no knowledge of the inquiry’s methodology and the specific questions asked. Cardinal Juan José Omela, the President of the Conference, pointed to the opacity surrounding the investigation, calling it absurd.

The survey results suggest that over one in 200 Spaniards may have experienced abuse. While this extrapolation may not be entirely accurate, the percentages provide an insight into the extent of the issue.

An internal Church investigation published in June identified 728 alleged sex abusers within Spain’s clergy, along with 927 victims since the 1940s. A 2021 report in El Pais newspaper previously identified more than 1,200 alleged cases.

The Ombudsman’s report also recommended the creation of a state fund to compensate victims. Francisco Garcia, the general secretary of the Conference, indicated that the Church would be open to contributing to such a fund.

However, he stressed that the issue of abuse extends beyond the Church and generally concerns educational institutions, sports clubs and other bodies.