The Bishopric of Mallorca sends to Barcelona a priest related to a case of sexual abuse of a migrant

PalmaThe Bishopric of Mallorca has removed the rector of Santa Maria del Camí and Alaró, Joan Pons Payeras, from his pastoral responsibilities after learning of the testimony of a migrant woman who allegedly suffered unwanted sexual touching by the priest. As reported by Diario de Mallorca and confirmed by ARA Balears, the priest has been transferred to Barcelona, where he is currently located.

The events allegedly took place in the context of the reception service that the parish of Santa Maria del Camí offered to this woman, who resided in one of the apartments linked to the church. The woman explained what had happened to a social worker, who subsequently passed on her testimony to the Bishopric of Mallorca, which has confirmed to ARA Balears that it has taken measures following this information, even though the woman has not filed any complaint with police or judicial authorities nor has she made any official statement before ecclesiastical authorities.

"Given the information received by the Bishopric of Mallorca regarding the testimony of an adult woman who had expressed to a social worker that she had suffered alleged touching by a diocesan priest, and despite the fact that the woman did not file a complaint or make an official statement, the Bishopric, following its current protocols, adopted the measures it considered proportionate to the described events, removing the priest from his pastoral responsibilities," the institution explained.

Joan Pons Payeras, 73 years old and a native of Búger, is already in Barcelona. According to the information published by Diario de Mallorca, the transfer was officially presented as a stay to expand his theological knowledge. Meanwhile, the Bishop of Mallorca, Sebastià Taltavull, has prohibited him from exercising his pastoral duties in the parishes of Santa Maria and Alaró.

The Bishopric asserts that, in the absence of additional information, it does not consider it necessary to adopt further measures. However, it expresses its willingness to collaborate if new data on the case emerges. "If new data related to these events were to arise, it manifests its full willingness to collaborate in everything necessary to contribute to the clarification of the facts," it notes.

A precedent in sa Pobla

It is not the first time that Joan Pons Payeras has been removed from his pastoral responsibilities following accusations of sexual abuse. In 2015, when he was rector of sa Pobla, the Bishopric already removed him after the accusations of a former altar boy. That complaint ended up being archived because the facts could not be substantiated. Subsequently, the priest resumed pastoral activity and was assigned to Santa Maria del Camí and Alaró.