- Title: SPAIN: Religious institution reports possible pedophile case, update
- Date: 5th May 2010
- Summary: BURRIANA, SPAIN (MAY 4, 2010) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FRONT OF CARMELITE CHURCH IN BURRIANA VARIOUS OF SCHOOL ENTRY NEXT TO CARMELITE CHURCH VARIOUS OF CARMELITE CHURCH IN BURRIANA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BURRIANA CITIZEN, TERESA, SAYING: "What can I say? Only that the Church is (in) very bad (position). This has finally been exposed because this is now new. This has been (happening) since the Church exists. A lot of people didn't report it because they were afraid, but now... But once one starts there is going to be a lot, a lot, lot lot more." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BURRIANA CITIZEN, EVA, SAYING: "A person who should be the religious guide for others and carries out that kind of things... if he believed in God he shouldn't do them." ENTRY TO CARMELITE CHURCH IN BURRIANA CLOSE UP OF DOOR WITH CHURCH OPENING TIMES CLOSE UP OF CHURCH OPENING TIMES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BURRIANA CITIZEN, JOSE, SAYING: "This is amazing. Especially when you think it's people who work with children. It's horrible. And the Church should do more about it. The Church should be covering them. Or, at least, that's what I think." MEDIA CREW AT BURRIANA CARMELITE CHURCH VARIOUS OF CHILDREN WALKING (ANONYMOUS)
- Embargoed: 20th May 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Spain
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA3VEI9PY7MGWZT5V7HV3DCNKF6
- Story Text: A Spanish religious institution reported on Tuesday (May 4) a possible pedophile case in which one of its priests would have taken advantage of an altar boy, the Diocese of Castellon said in a statement.
The suspected abuse took place in 2007 in the Spanish city of Burriana, Castellon, but the "Carmelitas Descalzos", a religious institution created in the 11th Century by Bartolo del Monte Carmelo, only reported it after the Vicar General received a letter from the boy's parents describing the facts.
The boy was only 16 years old when the suspected abuses took place and was under the priest's protection as an altar boy.
When the boy informed his parents, they decided to send him away to Peru, where he still lives, and sent two letters in which both father and son described the facts.
This is the first time a Spanish religious institution reports a case of sexual abuse, and the report comes a few weeks after the Pope said the Church would do "all in its power to investigate allegations" after a meeting with eight abuse victims during visit to Malta in April.
That was one of the clearest statements yet from the Vatican that it wanted local bishops to cooperate with civil authorities in prosecuting priests who abused children.
Some locals condemned the abuses but did not seem that surprised.
"What can I say? Only that the Church is (in) very bad (position). This has finally been exposed because this is now new. This has been (happening) since the Church exists. A lot of people didn't report it because they were afraid, but now... But once one starts there is going to be a lot, a lot, lot lot more," a resident named Teresa told Reuters.
"A person who should be the religious guide for others and carries out that kind of things... If he believed in God he shouldn't do them," said Eva.
But others expected some action to be taken.
"This is amazing. Especially when you think it's people who work with children. It's horrible. And the Church should do more about it. The Church should be covering them," Jose said.
The "Carmelitas Descalzos" condemned the actions and has said it will fully collaborate with the judiciary authorities investigating the case.
The suspect has been sent away to a monastery in Northern Spain. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
