Spain’s Supreme Court on Tuesday sentenced a former priest to 30 years in prison for abusing seven minors at a Catholic boarding school nearly a decade ago when he worked as a tutor. His name has not been released.
Allegations of child abuse by Catholic clergy and possible church cover-ups have emerged in recent months in Spain, years after similar scandals rocked the church in other countries including the United States, Ireland and France.
Church officials were unavailable for comment. The former priest had denied wrongdoing in the past.
The religious authority of the central province of Ciudad Real removed the priest in 2019 and reported the case to prosecutors after an internal investigation into abuses committed when he was teaching teenage male students.
In its ruling, the court said the priest took advantage of his position to inappropriately touch the boys’ genitals during mock games in swimming pools or in private rooms under the guise of medical “treatment”.
The court ruled that the touching was “of a clearly sexual character”. It also sentenced the man to pay a fine of €52,920 and compensation of €2,000 to each of the victims.
The newspaper El Pais in December reported on more than 1,200 alleged cases of abuse by the clergy over seven decades, and parliament later tasked the country’s ombudsman with an investigation.
Ombudsman Angel Gabilondo said in a statement on Tuesday that his office had already treated 201 victims, mostly men, in the first two months of the investigation, the findings of which will be presented to parliament.
“We are pleased with the speed with which the depositions are coming in and with the number of victims who have approached us, but what really matters and concerns us, more than the number, is listening to victims and doing it with respect, seriousness, discretion and confidentiality,” he said.
The Spanish Catholic Church said it was deeply saddened by the abuses and would work with the authorities and bring transparency, aid and reparation to victims.
It has also launched diocesan-level inquiries that are being overseen by a private law firm.
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