Spain launches joint government-church plan to compensate clergy sexual abuse victims

Spain’s government and the country’s Catholic bishops have agreed on a joint plan to compensate victims of sexual abuse by clergy members whose crimes have either been proscribed or whose perpetrators have died.

The agreement aims to reconcile differences between the left-wing government and church authorities over reparations for abuse victims in a country historically dominated by Catholicism, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The Spanish Episcopal Conference, run by the bishops, said the agreement allows victims who do not wish to seek help directly from the church to turn to the government and the state’s ombudsman, who has played a key role in exposing abuse.

“Today, we have paid a debt to the victims,” Justice Minister Félix Bolaños said at a press conference in Madrid. “It is true that the state has acted late, but we are acting now. Yesterday, the victims couldn’t do anything because these crimes had proscribed.” 

He added that “hundreds” of victims could finally receive acknowledgement and reparations.

Archbishop Luis Argüello, head of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, acknowledged that some victims were uncomfortable approaching church offices.

“Now, victims can turn to the government instead,” he said.

Under the new system, victims can submit petitions to the Justice Ministry, which will forward them to the ombudsman. The ombudsman will propose a compensation package for the church's committee to assess. If no agreement is reached, a joint committee of church representatives, the ombudsman, and victims’ associations will review the case. If that committee also fails to reach a decision, the ombudsman’s recommendation will stand.

The claims window will remain open for one year, with the possibility of a one-year extension if necessary, Bolaños said.

The minister also credited the efforts of late Pope Francis and current Pope Leo XIV in addressing abuse within the church. Archbishop Argüello added that the church had already paid out €2 million in compensation to more than 100 victims since its special committee began operating in 2024.

By Sabina Mammadli