Spain's first official probe of sex abuse by clergy members or other people connected to the Catholic Church in the country included a survey that indicated that the number of victims could run into hundreds of thousands.
The survey was part of a damning report by the office of Spain's ombudsman, or "defensor del pueblo," following an 18-month independent investigation of 487 cases involving alleged victims who spoke with the ombudsman's team.
Given that Spain's adult population stands close to 39 million, that would mean some 440,000 minors could have been sexually abused by Roman Catholic priests, members of a religious order and lay members of the church in recent decades. Ombudsman Angel Gabilondo did not extrapolate the survey findings into a count of possible victims but said the percentages were in line with similar reports in other European countries.
The government was forced to act after Spanish newspaper El Pais published abuse allegations involving more than 1,200 victims, provoking public outrage."Today we are a little better as a country, " Sanchez said Friday from Brussels. "Because a reality has been made known that everyone has known for many years, but which no one spoke of."Spain's Stolen Childhood abuse survivors' group collaborated with the ombudsman's office on the report.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Spain’s report on Catholic Church sex abuse estimates victims could number in hundreds of thousandsSurvey reveals some 440,000 people may have been victims of sexual abuse by Catholic church clergy or lay people connected to the church in recent decades in Spain
Read more »
New Vatican appointment for Northern Ont. Catholic bishopBishop Thomas Dowd retains local responsibilities
Read more »
One in 200 Spaniards may have been abused by Catholic priests -rights ombudsmanExplore stories from Atlantic Canada.
Read more »
One in 200 Spaniards may have been abused by Catholic priests -rights ombudsmanExplore stories from Atlantic Canada.
Read more »
EU Council agrees to Spain's Middle East peace conference proposalExplore stories from Atlantic Canada.
Read more »
EU Council agrees to Spain's Middle East peace conference proposalExplore stories from Atlantic Canada.
Read more »