Spanish Government Approves Plan to Address Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Amid Bishops' Discrimination Claims

The Spanish government has approved a plan to address the issue of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. The plan aims to provide compensation to victims, necessary treatments to improve their psychological condition, and prevent future cases of abuse.

According to the justice minister, Félix Bolaños, an in-depth investigation by the Ombudsman found that 440,000 people in Spain may have endured sexual abuse, with half of these victims suffering at the hands of the clergy. The government's measures seek to "recognise, prevent and redress" the sexual abuse that occurred in the Catholic Church.

The plan involves setting up a fund, to be largely financed by the Catholic Church, to compensate an estimated 440,000 victims of decades of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, staff, or teachers. The justice minister stated that the Church had failed over decades to address calls for reparations, and the government's scheme aims to "prevent, repair and settle the debt" owed to the victims.

Why this matters: The Spanish government's plan to address sexual abuse within the Catholic Church constitutes a significant step towards acknowledging and compensating victims who have suffered for decades. This move could set a precedent for other countries grappling with similar issues and encourage more victims to come forward and seek justice.

However, the Spanish Bishops' Conference has expressed concerns, stating that the plan excludes victims of sexual abuse in other organizations and represents a "condemnatory judgement of the entire Church." The bishops argue that the plan discriminates against the majority of abuse victims and questions the principles of equality and universality.

The government plans to negotiate with bishops on the Church's contribution to the compensation fund and organize a public event to offer "symbolic reparation" on behalf of the state. The plan also includes free legal assistance for all victims of sexual abuse and reinforced prevention supervision in schools.

Key Takeaways

• Spanish govt approves plan to compensate 440,000 victims of Catholic Church sex abuse
• Plan aims to recognize, prevent, and redress sexual abuse by clergy, staff, and teachers
• Catholic Church to largely finance compensation fund; bishops express concerns over plan
• Plan includes free legal assistance and reinforced prevention supervision in schools
• Spain's Catholic Church received 728 complaints of sexual abuse involving 927 children