Report: Spanish Clergy Sexually Abused Over 200K Children

Facts

• According to a 700-page report by an independent commission released last week, more than 200K children have suffered sexual abuse in Spain, allegedly by the Roman Catholic clergy, since 1940.¹
• A survey of about 8K members of the public has found that nearly 0.6% of Spain's 39M adult population had been sexually abused as children by clergy members. The number rises to 1.13% or 400K children when abuse by lay members is included.²
• The 18-month independent probe, carried out by Spain's ombudsman Ángel Gabilondo, echoes a 2021 investigation that found that at least 330K children were sexually abused over the course of 70 years by France's Catholic Church.³
• Meanwhile, accusing the Catholic Church of an 'insufficient' response to allegations of child abuse, Gabilondo has recommended creating a state fund to pay reparations to victims.⁴
• Though Spain's Catholic Church had declined to take part in the investigation — ordered by Spain's Congress last year — it did provide documents on cases of sexual abuse and hired a law firm to conduct an internal audit into the allegations.²
• In June, Spain's Catholic bishops' conference said it had uncovered 728 child abuse cases through the testimony of 927 victims since 1945, adding that more than 50% of abusers were priests.⁵

Sources: ¹BBC News, ²Al Jazeera, ³Associated Press (a), ⁴France 24 and ⁵Associated Press (b).

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Associated Press. The Catholic Church is one of the few multinational organizations that treats child sexual abuse with the required gravity and that has undertaken a global mission to rectify the harms of the past. From helping victims seek compensation from their abusers to drafting comprehensive zero-tolerance policies for abuse, the Church has put atonement and prevention at the forefront of its mission around the world.
• Narrative B, as provided by El País English. The never-ending torrent of abuse allegations against the Catholic clergy has refused to let up, highlighting just how deep and systemic the issue of abuse in the Church really is. Despite Church denials and resistance to external oversight, brave victims continue to come forward. Many of the victims surveyed have felt that the Church hasn't taken their claims seriously, which is beginning to seem like the case time and time again.