Spain Finally Approves First Probe Into Child Abuse By Catholic Priests

Church And State ✒ On 10 March, the Spanish parliament voted to set up a commission to conduct the country’s first official investigation into sexual abuse within the Catholic Church.

The motion was passed by an overwhelming majority, with only the far-right party Vox opposing the historic investigation.

The commission will examine “the execrable personal acts committed against defenceless children” and will also identify “those who committed these abuses, as well as those who covered up or protected them”.

“On one hand, there will be public testimonies … On the other hand, there will be an authentic commission to find the truth. The proposed commission of experts will be granted with powers to force the church to cooperate if needed,” said Jaume Asens, head of the Unidas Podemos parliamentary group.

Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote on Twitter that the investigation was “a first step to try to repair the pain of the victims, who had not been heard until now”.

Allegations of child abuse by Catholic clergy and cover-ups by the church are only surfacing now in Spain, years after similar scandals rocked the Church in other countries.

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