The Diocese of Málaga has announced that it will immediately pay the compensation set by the Provincial Court for the four victims of the priest known as “Father Fran,” recently sentenced to 52 years in prison for sexual abuse. At the same time, the Diocese has confirmed that its legal advisors are studying the possibility of appealing the declaration of subsidiary civil liability contained in the ruling.
The announcement was made this Wednesday by the Bishop of Málaga, Mons. José Antonio Satué, who appeared publicly after the judicial decision became known to explain the diocese’s position and the measures it will adopt from now on.
The victims will be able to access the amounts set by the sentence
Satué explained that the diocese has sent a letter to the four victims, through their lawyers, informing them of the decision to deposit the amounts established by the Provincial Court and make them available “as soon as possible.” According to him, that deposit will be “final and irrevocable.”
The bishop added that the victims will be able to access those amounts even if a later judicial ruling reduces or nullifies the subsidiary civil liability attributed to the Diocese. He also clarified that the diocese waives any claim for reimbursement from the victims that might arise from a favorable appeal.
During the press conference, it was confirmed that the amount deposited totals the 403,129 euros set in the sentence, distributed among the four victims as established by the Provincial Court.
The Diocese is considering appealing the civil liability
Regarding the sentence, Satué expressed the diocese’s respect for the judicial ruling and the courts’ actions, although he noted that the Diocese’s legal advisors will assess, “from a strictly legal standpoint,” the advisability of appealing the declaration of subsidiary civil liability.
The Provincial Court declared the Diocese subsidiarily civilly liable, considering that the crimes could not be separated from the convicted priest’s status or the exercise of his ministry—a criterion the diocese had already rejected during the pre-trial phase.
Measures announced by the diocese
In a letter sent to the victims, the bishop also offers the possibility of accessing the diocesan service for therapeutic and spiritual accompaniment for victims of abuse and expresses his willingness to meet with them personally if they so desire.
He also announced that the diocese will continue developing the new victim support and abuse prevention service, which began last June in collaboration with the Repara project of the Archdiocese of Madrid.
During the question-and-answer session, Satué explained that he did not send the letter immediately after the sentence became known because he considered it necessary to study the ruling first and define the measures the diocese would adopt.