As of this Wednesday, victims of pedophilia within the Spanish clergy can now request reparation through the newly launched Office for the Recognition and Reparation of Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church. This mechanism, a result of a protocol signed on March 30, aims to provide restoration and compensation to victims in cases where legal action was not possible, either due to prescription or the alleged aggressor's death.
Daniel Juan Tortosa, episcopal delegate for Abuse Prevention and head of the Office for the Protection of Minors of the Archdiocese of Valencia, stated in an interview on Les notícies del matí that this opens a new door for comprehensive victim reparation. He highlighted that the Valencian ecclesiastical jurisdiction has been a pioneer in these actions, having activated a protocol for the prevention and detection of sexual abuse in educational, Catholic, and pastoral settings five years ago, in 2021.
“"The suffering of an abused person and their environment is very difficult to repair, but some moral measure had to be taken. This protocol is a different door from the ecclesial door."
The new joint State-Church mechanism, now in effect, will be coordinated by the ombudsman and attached to the Ministry of Justice. Furthermore, the Catholic Church already approved its comprehensive reparation program, named Priva, in July 2024, which includes economic compensation and psychological, legal, and pastoral support. In the Archdiocese of Valencia, this plan operates through its Office for the Protection of Minors.
Regarding the decision by the Provincial Court of Valencia to reopen the case for alleged sexual abuse of several students at a religious school in Torrent, Juan Tortosa emphasized the premise of collaboration with justice and a policy of "total transparency and zero tolerance." He added that the archdiocese is committed to eradicating all abuse within the Church, as "one abuse is too many, one victim is everything."
Among the initiatives launched in Valencia are specific and mandatory training programs for all pastoral agents who work with children in parishes, as well as rectors. According to archdiocesan estimates, over 3,000 people have already completed these courses. Juan Tortosa concluded that the Catholic Church is doing a great deal against sexual abuse, with the hope that it will be eradicated and that there will never again be talk of any abuse in any sphere of Valencian society.
