After handing over the investigative report on hundreds of child abuse cases within the Spanish church, law firm Cremades & Calvo-Sotelo announced on Tuesday that it will carry out an independent audit into the Spanish church.
In mid-December, the Vatican already announced that the Spanish church is subject to a major investigation into child abuse following a report prepared by the Spanish newspaper El País. According to this report, the number of child abuse victims amounts to at least 1,237 minors. And has, furthermore, involved at least 251 clerics over the years.
Independent audit after Vatican report
El País informed the Vatican of the report. Subsequently, they handed the report over to the Spanish Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a dicastery within the Roman Curia entrusted with all matters pertaining to the teachings of the Catholic Church. On Monday, the bishops’ conference announced that following the report, the Spanish Catholic Church will undergo an independent audit of all reports of sexual abuse allegedly committed within the church.
Spanish law firm gets to the bottom of it
Law firm Cremades & Calvo-Sotelo opens an independent investigation into all reports made. They do everything they can to sort out every case. El País wrote on Tuesday that the investigation also covers cases that have been covered up by church boards. In addition, cases where compensation has been paid to victims or next of kin.
Vicitms are able to report future cases at an independent reporting point. The firm will initiate legal procedures for punishing criminal acts. Finally, they will set up a prevention system to prevent child abuse in the future as much as possible.
Spain political parties express concern about abuse of Spanish church
This announcement comes at the same time as several Spanish political parties, such as the PSOE, Unidas Podemos, ERC, and EH Bildu, are coming up with a similar plan to set up a commission to investigate sexual abuse of minors within the church. The Spanish Episcopal Conference has not yet commented on any participation in the said investigations by Spanish politicians.
The government of Spain has expressed concern about the report. Furthermore, it has stated that all reports should be clarified as soon as possible.
Related post: Vatican opens investigation into Spanish church child abuse allegations
