An independent commission’s report published on Friday reveals that over 200,000 minors in Spain have experienced sexual abuse at the hands of the Roman Catholic clergy since 1940.
The report, while not providing specific figures, indicated that a poll of more than 8,000 individuals showed that approximately 0.6 percent of Spain’s adult population, which numbers around 39 million people, reported having suffered sexual abuse by members of the clergy during their childhood.
This percentage increases to 1.13 percent, equivalent to over 400,000 individuals, when abuse by lay members is considered, as stated by Spain’s national ombudsman, Angel Gabilondo, during a press conference held to present the findings of the extensive 700-page report.
These revelations add to a series of scandals that have shaken the Roman Catholic Church worldwide over the past two decades, often involving child victims.
The commission also conducted interviews with 487 victims, who emphasized the severe emotional and psychological consequences of the abuse. Some survivors reported suicide, while others struggled to rebuild their lives, according to Gabilondo, a former Socialist education minister.
Unlike in other countries, in Spain, a traditionally Catholic nation that has become increasingly secular, allegations of clerical abuse have only recently gained prominence, with survivors accusing the Church of obstructing efforts to address the issue.
The report is highly critical of the Catholic Church’s response, noting that it has long been marked by denial and attempts to downplay the problem.
Gabilondo highlighted that “unfortunately, for many years there had been a certain desire to deny abuses or a desire to conceal or protect the abusers.”
In March 2022, Spain’s parliament overwhelmingly approved the establishment of an independent commission led by the country’s ombudsman to investigate clerical abuse.
