The Diocese of Zamora, in Castilla y León, reported this Thursday, August 27 the existence of a canonical procedure against a diocesan priest following an accusation of sexual abuse. According to the testimonies received by the Bishop’s Office, the reported incidents allegedly occurred when the complainants were minors.
The priest has been temporarily suspended from his duties as parish priest, has been provisionally barred from the public exercise of his ministry, and is prohibited from participating in activities involving minors. The diocese clarifies that these measures are preventive and “do not prejudge the outcome of the ongoing proceedings.”
The case file was sent to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith
After receiving the accusation, the Bishop of Zamora, Msgr. Fernando Valera, initiated a preliminary canonical investigation in which testimonies and documentation were gathered to clarify the facts.
Once this phase was completed, the case file was forwarded to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith of the Holy See. After reviewing the actions taken by the diocese, the Vatican body ordered the opening of the corresponding canonical procedure to clarify the facts and, where appropriate, determine any resulting responsibilities.
The diocesan statement does not identify the priest or specify the number of complainants, when the incidents allegedly occurred, or the parishes where he served.
Cadena SER reported this Thursday, citing its own sources, that the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office and the Civil Guard are investigating the case and that the first complaints reportedly reached the bishop in 2024. According to this information, the incidents under investigation are said to be related to summer camps, and the measures to remove the priest from activities with young people were adopted in 2025. These details do not appear in the statement issued by the diocese.
The facts were reported to the civil authorities
The Bishop’s Office confirms that it brought the facts to the attention of the competent civil authorities and states that it maintains “its full willingness to cooperate with them in everything that may be required.”
The communication to the civil authorities took place in parallel with the actions carried out in the canonical sphere. The diocese does not provide details in its statement about the status of the civil proceedings.
Regarding the priest, three precautionary measures remain in force: the temporary suspension of his duties as parish priest, the temporary suspension of the public exercise of his ministry, and the prohibition on participating in any activity involving minors.
The diocese emphasizes the preventive nature of these measures while the possible responsibility of the accused is determined.
The diocese calls for prudence and respect for the presumption of innocence
The Diocese of Zamora has reiterated its commitment to “the protection of minors and vulnerable persons” and to the clarification of such cases in collaboration with civil and ecclesiastical authorities.
The Bishop’s Office also has the Kumi Project, established by decree of Msgr. Valera for the reception of complaints and the prevention and care of possible abuses. The initiative includes personal, psychological, spiritual, and legal support for those who report abuse.
Regarding the currently open procedure, the diocese expresses its willingness to “listen to, welcome, and accompany the persons involved” and requests prudence while the proceedings continue.
These proceedings, the statement concludes, must be carried out “with all guarantees for the complainant and with due respect for the presumption of innocence of the accused”.