In a comprehensive report released by the Spanish Catholic Church, a painstaking investigation into cases of child sexual abuse has revealed a shocking number of alleged abusers and victims spanning eight decades. The report documents 728 individuals accused of abuse and identifies 927 victims since the 1940s.
This investigation gained significant attention in Spain following an exposé by El Pais newspaper in 2021, which uncovered over 1,200 alleged cases. These revelations have reignited concerns about sexual abuse within the Church, reminiscent of the scandals that rocked Catholic institutions in countries like the United States, Ireland, and France.
Numerous inquiries have been launched to address this grave issue, including an investigation led by the country’s ombudsman, as well as the Church’s internal efforts to address the situation.
It is important to note that the report does not establish guilt or innocence but rather compiles testimonies from victims. Notably, over 99% of the accused individuals were male, with approximately half of them being clerics. The majority of recorded cases occurred between the 1960s and 1980s.
Heartbreakingly, the report reveals that over 63% of the alleged abusers, as reported by the predominantly male victims, have passed away.
Last year, Spain’s national prosecutor’s office expressed dissatisfaction with the Church’s internal investigation, describing it as “partial” and “of little use” in a letter to the ombudsman.
