Spain's Roman Catholic Church reached an agreement with the government to compensate victims of sexual abuse by members of the clergy. The accord, signed recently, addresses complaints that religious leaders had not adequately tackled the issue.

Under the agreement, the government will manage compensation in coordination with the Church, handling cases where other legal avenues are no longer available due to statutes of limitations or the death of the accused. Justice Minister Félix Bolaños stated that the agreement seeks to "pay off an historic, moral debt that we had with victims of abuse within the Church." He added that "a democracy should not allow the existence of victims who have never been compensated and whose situation, on the contrary, had been covered up."

The government estimates that hundreds of thousands of Spaniards have suffered sexual abuse at the hands of Church figures. This move follows similar redress schemes implemented in other nations where abuse has been uncovered. The deal is expected to expand the number of victims who can seek compensation.

The agreement comes after years of mounting pressure on the Church to address the issue of sexual abuse. Victims' groups have long criticized the Church's handling of abuse allegations, arguing that it has prioritized protecting its own reputation over the well-being of victims. The new compensation scheme represents a significant step toward acknowledging the harm caused and providing some measure of redress.

The implementation of the compensation scheme will involve establishing a process for victims to file claims and for those claims to be assessed. Details regarding the specific criteria for compensation and the amounts to be awarded are expected to be released in the coming weeks. The agreement marks a significant development in Spain's efforts to address the legacy of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church.