Lorraine Williamson
Spain has taken a decisive step in confronting decades of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, approving compensation for 39 survivors in the first nationwide scheme of its kind. The payouts range from €3,000 to €100,000 and represent not only financial redress but an official recognition of suffering long ignored by church leaders.
The move comes amid growing public pressure and parliamentary scrutiny, after years of revelations about abuse hidden behind sacristy doors. By placing survivor care at the heart of its strategy, Spain joins a small but growing group of European nations demanding accountability from religious institutions.
How the new system works
The initiative is overseen by PRIVA (Proyecto de Investigación sobre los Abusos en el Ámbito Religioso), a body set up by the Spanish parliament following investigative reports that exposed widespread abuse. Rather than functioning as a court, PRIVA operates as an independent review board, assessing each claim within three months.
Its ten members include lawyers, trauma specialists, and safeguarding experts, alongside representatives from the bishops’ conference and religious congregations. They work voluntarily and place strict confidentiality at the centre of the process. Awards depend on the severity of the abuse and the context in which it occurred, with incidents during confession or prayer considered particularly grave.
More than money: therapy and prevention
Compensation is only part of the package. Survivors can access therapy, medical treatment, and other forms of long-term support. PRIVA also issues recommendations to dioceses and religious orders on safeguarding, aiming to prevent future abuse and to change a culture where silence once prevailed.
Cases still under review
Since opening in February 2025, the commission has received 89 applications — 32 linked to dioceses and 57 to religious orders. Of the 39 already approved, roughly a quarter have secured awards above €50,000. The remaining cases await documentation or responses from church authorities, with more decisions expected in the coming months.
A signal for the wider Catholic world
While criminal prosecutions remain rare due to statutes of limitation, Spain’s approach highlights a growing European trend: placing survivor welfare ahead of institutional reputation. By offering compensation and counselling even when courts cannot act, Spain is sending a clear message that the era of quiet cover-ups is over.