"Massive Scale of Child Sexual Abuse by Spanish Clergy Revealed in Commission's Report"

An independent commission in Spain has estimated that over 200,000 minors were sexually abused by members of the Roman Catholic clergy since 1940. The report, which included a poll of over 8,000 people, found that 0.6 percent of Spain's adult population said they had suffered sexual abuse by clergy when they were children. The percentage rose to 1.13 percent when abuse by lay members was included. The report criticized the Catholic Church for its denial and attempts to downplay the issue and recommended the creation of a state fund to pay reparations to victims. The Spanish bishops' conference will react to the report on Monday.