Spain faces a disturbing reality: sexual abuse within the Catholic Church affects an alarming number of people. According to a recent independent investigation, more than 200,000 individuals were victims of sexual assault by religious figures when they were minors. This study, the first of its kind in Spain, reveals a problem that has until now remained in the shadows.
The figures put forward by the report are chilling. Of the 8,000 people surveyed, almost 0.6% of the Spanish adult population said they had been victims of sexual assault by clerics when they were children. A slightly lower number, 0.53%, also disclosed experiencing abuse from lay people working in religious institutions.
These revelations were made during the presentation of the report to the Congress of Spanish Deputies by the Ombudsman, Ángel Gabilondo. The latter stressed that the sexual abuse mainly occurred between 1970 and today. A long period during which the Church would have had a reaction considered “insufficient” to these affairs.
Faced with this dramatic situation, the report proposes several measures to provide reparations to the victims. One of them recommends the creation by the State of a special fund dedicated to compensating people who have suffered from these abuses. An initiative aimed at recognizing their suffering and helping them rebuild their lives.
This independent investigation marks a turning point for Spain, a country marked by a strong Catholic tradition. Unlike other countries such as France, Germany, Ireland and the United States, Spain has never carried out an investigation of this scale into sexual abuse within the Church. A silence that lasted for years, until the decision of Spanish deputies to set up a commission of experts responsible for studying these crimes and providing answers to the victims.
It should be noted that the Episcopal Conference of the Spanish Catholic Church took part in an independent external audit on sexual abuse. However, she did not actively participate in the work of the commission and the results of this audit will not be revealed until the end of the year. An approach which shows a certain reluctance on the part of the Church to shed light on these matters.
This independent investigation highlights a problem that is crucial to be aware of. It is essential to support victims and put measures in place to prevent such abuse in the future. Spain has taken an important first step in launching this investigation, but much more needs to be done to ensure the safety of children and combat these heinous crimes.