MADRID (AP) — Spain on Tuesday approved a plan aimed at making reparation and economic compensation for victims of sex abuse committed by people connected to the Catholic Church.
It also announced the future celebration of a public act of recognition for those affected and their families.
The Minister of the Presidency and Justice, Félix Bolaños, said the plan was based on recommendations in a report by Spain’s Ombudsman last year. From that report, he said it was concluded that some 440,000 adults may have suffered sex abuse in Spain by people linked to the church and that roughly half of those cases were committed by clergy.
Bolaños said the compensation would be financed by the church.
But in a statement Tuesday, Spain’s Bishops Conference rejected the plan, saying it discriminated against victims outside of church circles.
No details of how much or when financial compensation would be paid were released. Neither was a date set for any public act of recognition.
A legal challenge over the UK's role in arms sales to Israel will go ahead
Central Rural Work Conference Is Held, Xi Delivers Important Instructions on Rural Work
21 bodies found at crash site of Nepali plane
Xi Presents Order to Promote Military Officers to Rank of General
He's a former Disney Channel actor who starred in famous films before serving four years in prison
Drilling of undersea tunnel of Guangzhou
Alleged intruder at Peruvian embassy in U.S. shot dead by Secret Service
G7 seeks cooperation on evacuation, refugees amid chaos in Kabul
Death toll in Hebei gas explosion rises to 7
South Korean sentenced to 14 months in jail for killing 76 cats
China to relax foreign investment rules amid further opening up