The Revista Ecclesia reported that the Advisory Commission of the Plan de Reparación Integral a menores y personas equiparadas en derechos, Víctimas de Abusos sexuales (PRIVA) has completed its first year of operation with a significant balance: 39 comprehensive reparation rulings issued out of the 40 reports received.
The spokesperson of the Commission, Sandra Várez González, recalled that the main mission is “to evaluate and rule on the comprehensive reparation of those cases of sexual abuse committed against minors or vulnerable persons, which have already prescribed or in which justice cannot act”. She emphasized that the commission works with independence and autonomy, basing its decisions on legal and therapeutic criteria.
89 requests received since February
From February to September of this year, 89 requests have been received: 32 corresponding to dioceses and 57 to religious congregations. Almost half have already been resolved within an average period of three months.
The reparations include economic indemnities ranging from 3,000 to 100,000 euros, depending on the severity of the case, in addition to compensation for therapeutic expenses and recommendations to ecclesiastical institutions to implement prevention and accompaniment measures.
Cases outside the judicial scope
The work of PRIVA focuses on situations where formal justice—penal, civil or canonical—cannot act, either due to prescription of the offense, death or non-imputability of the perpetrator. Among the possible responsible parties are clerics, religious and lay people with pastoral responsibilities.
Independence and accompaniment
The Commission is made up of 10 members: a representative from the Conferencia Episcopal Española, one from CONFER, and eight independent professionals—jurists, academics, and therapists—who collaborate voluntarily. According to Ecclesia, this model seeks to avoid re-victimization and ensure clear and transparent processes.
The pending cases for resolution are awaiting receipt of documentation from the corresponding institutions.