The Spanish government and the Catholic Church have signed an agreement to compensate victims of sexual abuse by clergy in cases that can no longer be pursued in court.
The deal, finalized in Madrid on Monday, March 30, targets victims who cannot seek legal action because the crimes are time-barred or the alleged perpetrators have died.
It comes ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Spain from June 6 to 12, the first papal trip to the country since 2011.
Justice Minister Felix Bolanos called the signing “a day of justice” for “the thousands of victims who suffered sexual abuse within the Catholic Church and were not only left without support, but were doubted and forgotten.”
Compensation will be determined individually rather than through fixed guidelines. Representatives from the government, the Church, and Spain’s ombudsman will oversee the process, with the state having final authority. The Church will be responsible for paying any awards.
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Bolanos described the framework as “pioneering worldwide,” combining state oversight with Church responsibility.
Luis Arguello, president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE), called it “a gesture” by the Church.
“Even though we are dealing with cases that are legally time-barred or where the accused have died, the Church wants to acknowledge its responsibility as part of the same body,” he said.
A 2023 report by Spain’s ombudsman found that over 200,000 minors have suffered sexual abuse by clergy since 1940, a number that could rise to 400,000 if abuse by laypersons in religious settings is included. The Church’s records list 1,057 cases, with 358 considered “proven” or “credible.”
Clerical abuse allegations in Spain have only recently gained traction, largely through media reporting, and Church compensation efforts have historically been inconsistent, varying widely across the world.