The response to sexual abuse: so much ground to cover
PalmThe case published today by ARA Baleares is shockingly brutal. A woman explains how, for 35 years, she was repeatedly raped by three members of the clergy; her father had also been abusive. It's a story of such stark reality that it's difficult to read and accept, but it can no longer be hidden. For too long, silence was the abusers' best ally. It's true that the social, political, and judicial reaction to sexual abuse—including that committed by members of the Church—has changed significantly compared to the years when complaints were silenced, discredited, or resolved with discreet transfers and requests for silence. Today, victims are heard, the facts are usually acknowledged, and institutions are obliged, at the very least, to provide explanations. This is an undeniable step forward. But insufficient.
The recent agreement between the Spanish government and the Catholic Church for the Church to compensate victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by its members is an important and much-needed step. However, concrete details are still lacking: we need to know how it will be structured, who will have access, and with what guarantees. Symbolic recognition cannot replace effective reparations or institutional accountability. It must be said that the work of groups like Stolen Childhood has been key in this process—a name that is not a metaphor: these people have had their childhoods stolen, their lives shattered, and for years they have been denied the right to be believed. Much remains to be done within the Church as well. Canon law still shows serious gaps and an anachronistic perspective, especially regarding abuse against adults. In the case of Palma's wife, Pope Francis even decreed the expulsion of one of the abusers, but it was not carried out. In the Balearic Islands, there are other cases with final court convictions for which the Church has apologized, but has kept those responsible within the institution. Letters of apology can no longer coexist with impunity. Although Balearic society is not immune to these events, the power of the Church and the burden of conventional wisdom still hold sway, apart from the general population. Breaking with the culture of silence requires political courage and sustained commitment.
Herein lies one of the main dangers. The progress achieved in public denunciation, support for victims, and political measures could be reversed—or halted—if the far right continues to gain power in the State and in the Islands. Vox denies the very existence of violence against women, questions protection policies, and downplays sexual violence. Within this ideological framework, victims are once again viewed with suspicion, and perpetrators are rendered invisible. The fight against sexual abuse cannot be subjected to denialism or political calculation. Listening, repairing, and acting are not concessions. They are a social and democratic obligation.
