According to a report published by an independent commission, it is estimated that over 200,000 minors in Spain have been subjected to sexual abuse by the Roman Catholic clergy since 1940. This report was based on a survey of more than 8,000 individuals, revealing that approximately 0.6 percent of Spain's adult population, which stands at around 39 million people, reported experiencing sexual abuse during their childhood by members of the clergy.
When taking into account cases involving lay members, the percentage rises to 1.13 percent, which corresponds to over 400,000 people. These findings were shared during a press conference held by Spain's national ombudsman, Angel Gabilondo, who discussed the report's outcomes.
Spain has witnessed a growing awareness of clerical abuse allegations in recent years, despite its traditional Catholic background giving way to a more secular society. Survivors of abuse have criticized the Church's handling of these allegations, describing it as unresponsive.
The report is critical of the Catholic Church, characterizing its response to child abuse cases involving clergy as "insufficient." The report suggests the establishment of a state fund to provide reparations to victims.
Prior to the report's presentation in parliament, the Spanish bishops conference announced that it would hold an extraordinary meeting to address the report's findings.
In March 2022, Spain's parliament approved the formation of an independent commission led by the country's ombudsman to investigate allegations of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. The Spanish Catholic Church, which had previously declined to conduct its inquiry, has been cooperating by sharing documents related to cases of sexual abuse collected by dioceses.
In February 2022, the Spanish Church engaged a private law firm to conduct an "audit" of past and present sexual abuse cases involving clergy, teachers, and other Church-associated individuals. This audit is expected to conclude by the end of the year.
The Spanish Church claimed to have discovered 927 cases of child abuse through a complaints procedure initiated in 2020. The Church states that it has implemented protocols for addressing sexual abuse and has established "child protection" offices within dioceses.
Nonetheless, a comprehensive investigation carried out by the widely circulated newspaper El Pais beginning in 2018 revealed 2,206 victims and 1,036 alleged abusers dating back to 1927. The newspaper stated that, according to experts, this figure is just the beginning of a more extensive issue.
The Church's abuse crisis became globally known in 2002 when the Boston Globe newspaper uncovered decades of child sexual abuse by priests and its subsequent cover-up by church leaders. Widespread abuse of children was subsequently reported in the United States, Europe, Chile, and Australia, causing significant damage to the Church's moral authority and membership.
In France, an independent commission determined in 2021 that approximately 216,000 children, primarily boys, had experienced sexual abuse by clergy since 1950. In Germany, a study identified 3,677 cases of abuse between 1946 and 2014. In Ireland, over 14,500 individuals received compensation through a government scheme for those who suffered abuse at juvenile facilities operated by the Catholic Church.
