Madrid (EFE).- This Monday, the Government, the Spanish Episcopal Conference, the Spanish Confederation of Religious and the Ombudsman formalised an agreement to compensate victims of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church whose cases are already time-barred. The compensation option will start operating on 15 April. Victims who have already used the compensation system established by the Church in 2024 will be able to access the new combined mechanism. The Church will be responsible for the reparations, while the Ombudsman will evaluate each situation and determine the amounts of compensation. The text does not specify the amount of indemnities. With the new system, the affected person will begin the procedure at an office of the Ministry of Justice, which will send the case to the Victims Unit of the Ombudsman. This unit will prepare a proposal for resolution and, if applicable, for compensation based on what the victim requires. The ecclesiastical authority will be able to appeal the decision, but the final decision will rest with the Ombudsman. The agreement has been signed by Argüello, Bolaños, Díaz Sariego and Gabilondo. In a statement, the CEE and the Conference emphasised that a new access to the plan designed by the Church is being established. They have highlighted that the cooperation of the institutions will play a fundamental role in this system.
The Government and the Church sign the protocol to compensate victims of sexual abuse in Spain.
