An audit commissioned by the Spanish Catholic Church to investigate child sexual abuse within its ranks has uncovered 1,383 complaints and identified 2,056 victims, according to a report published on Thursday.
The Church, already dealing with a scandal exposed by a 2021 investigation, released results from the ongoing inquiry conducted by the Cremades law firm, spanning over 1,000 pages.
Following a cross-referencing of various reports, the Spanish Bishops’ Conference estimated around 1,000 cases of abuse. Acknowledging the possibility of cases being duplicated, the Church admitted that numerous instances remain unreported.
The report emphasized that the data would never be definitive, considering the time elapsed and victims choosing not to come forward.
Despite the challenges, the Church remains committed to uncovering all cases, aiming to provide healing for victims and prevent further abuse.
A survey from Spain’s human rights ombudsman earlier this year suggested that over one in 200 Spaniards may have been sexually abused by Catholic priests. The ombudsman criticized the Church for inadequate cooperation and attempts to downplay the issue.
Spain’s Catholic Church, expressing apologies, announced plans to compensate victims, even in cases where the alleged perpetrator has passed away, demonstrating a commitment to addressing historical abuses.
