Bishops and Spain's government agree on compensation plan for clergy abuse victims

Spain's government and the Spanish Episcopal Conference agreed on a joint process to compensate victims of clergy sexual abuse whose alleged abusers have died or whose cases are time-barred, allowing victims to file initial petitions with the Justice Ministry for review by the ombudsman; the filing window will be open for one year.

Spain's government and the Spanish Episcopal Conference announced a joint plan to compensate victims of sexual abuse by clergy whose alleged abusers have died or whose possible crimes are time-barred. The agreement is intended to offer an option for victims who do not want to approach church offices directly. Justice Minister Félix Bolaños said the measure will allow many victims to receive recognition and economic reparations. The move follows public reporting and an ombudsman's inquiry that brought attention to historic cases. Key points: - Victims can submit an initial petition to Spain's Justice Ministry, which will forward it to the ombudsman for review and a proposed compensation package. - The church's special committee will assess the ombudsman's proposal; if no agreement is reached, cases go to a joint committee including church representatives, the ombudsman's office and victims' associations, and the ombudsman's decision will stand if that committee cannot agree, according to Bolaños. - The filing window is open for one year and may be extended for an additional year if needed. - The Spanish bishops said the church paid about 2 million euros to more than 100 victims after its 2024 committee began work, and payments under the new deal will be tax-free. Summary: The agreement establishes a state-linked pathway intended to give victims an alternative to church-only procedures and to address differences between the government and the bishops over reparations. Officials said claims will be reviewed by the ombudsman and, where required, considered by a joint committee; the one-year filing period is the next procedural step.