https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Spain in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Spain's Catholic Church said Thursday that an audit it had ordered into child sexual abuse by priests had found significantly fewer cases than an independent commission appointed by parliament. https://www.thelocal.es/20231221/spanish-churchs-audit-finds-fewer-cases-of-abuse-than-commission Thu, 21 Dec 2023 19:05:29 +0100 spanish-churchs-audit-finds-fewer-cases-of-abuse-than-commission There is little “enthusiasm” within Spain’s Catholic Church for the ongoing investigation into child sexual abuse by its clergy, the country’s ombudsman, who is leading the probe, said on Tuesday. https://www.thelocal.es/20220928/spains-ombudsman-reports-little-enthusiasm-from-church-in-abuse-inquiry Wed, 28 Sep 2022 11:04:02 +0200 spains-ombudsman-reports-little-enthusiasm-from-church-in-abuse-inquiry Spanish Catholics want Rome to consider talks on the future of the priesthood including optional celibacy, the ordination of women, and also of married men. https://www.thelocal.es/20220612/spanish-catholics-want-church-to-mull-optional-celibacy-women-priests Sun, 12 Jun 2022 12:35:45 +0200 spanish-catholics-want-church-to-mull-optional-celibacy-women-priests Religious groups are suing a Spanish artist over his latest exhibit: consecrated wafers spelling out the word "paedophilia". https://www.thelocal.es/20151125/spain-artist-angers-catholics-with-stolen-wafers-paedo-piece Wed, 25 Nov 2015 11:44:27 +0100 spain-artist-angers-catholics-with-stolen-wafers-paedo-piece Spain's bishops conference on Thursday defended the right of priests to maintain the secrecy of the confessional booth even in cases of serious crimes such as the sexual abuse of children. https://www.thelocal.es/20150227/priests-defend-secrecy-in-sex-abuse-confessions Fri, 27 Feb 2015 10:30:44 +0100 priests-defend-secrecy-in-sex-abuse-confessions The diocese of Bilbao has warned its congregation not to give alms to beggars because of their disruptive behaviour around some of the city’s churches. https://www.thelocal.es/20150112/dont-give-money-to-beggars-bilbao-church Mon, 12 Jan 2015 14:05:00 +0100 dont-give-money-to-beggars-bilbao-church The priests in Granada who are being investigated for sexual abuse after a letter sent to Pope Francis allegedly drew young boys into church activities before ruthlessly convincing them to engage in sexual activities, investigators have learned. https://www.thelocal.es/20141120/paedophile-priests-acted-like-a-sect-case-sources Thu, 20 Nov 2014 15:05:00 +0100 paedophile-priests-acted-like-a-sect-case-sources The top Spanish cardinal who recently selected eight priests to work as an exclusive exorcist squad said on Friday that the best way to help embattled Spain's Royal Family "is to pray". https://www.thelocal.es/20130621/exorcist-priest-aids-spanish-king-with-prayer Fri, 21 Jun 2013 16:01:00 +0200 exorcist-priest-aids-spanish-king-with-prayer Spain's national television broadcaster TVE has come under fire for a news segment in which psychologists were misquoted as saying that prayer can help people suffering from the effects of the country's economic crisis. https://www.thelocal.es/20130509/tv-prayer-row-strirs-psychologist-outrage Thu, 09 May 2013 15:32:00 +0200 tv-prayer-row-strirs-psychologist-outrage The number of people living in Spain's religious institutions fell by over 50 percent in the decade from 2001 to 2011, new figures show. https://www.thelocal.es/20130508/spain-loses-faith-as-religious-orders-empty-out Wed, 08 May 2013 18:11:00 +0200 spain-loses-faith-as-religious-orders-empty-out