Spain: Catholic Church investigates sexual abuse of hundreds of children

The Spanish Catholic Church is set to launch an investigation into allegations that hundreds of children were sexually abused 80 years ago by El Pais newspaper.

The investigation will examine the allegations of sexual abuse allegedly committed by 251 priests and some secular figures from religious organizations, which were revealed by the newspaper.

The newspaper did not fully publish the findings of its three-year investigation into the matter, but said its correspondent handed over a 385-page file to Pope Francis on December 2 as the papal entourage and journalists flew from Rome to Cyprus.

The number of victims is at least 1,237, but it can turn out to be thousands, the newspaper writes.

The complaints concern 31 religious orders and 31 of the country’s approximately 70 dioceses.

The oldest case concerns 1942 and the most recent in 2018.

The inquiry will be conducted by a meeting of Spanish bishops led by Cardinal Juan José Omegia, Archbishop of Barcelona, ​​according to El Pais.

Officials from the bishops’ meeting were not available for comment today.

A Vatican spokesman was also unavailable, but the Vatican does not usually comment on the work of national bishops.

In November, Pope Francis thanked reporters who helped uncover scandals involving clergymen that the Catholic Church had initially sought to cover up.

Source: AMPE