As the Government and Church negotiate indemnities for nearly 3,000 victims, groups like Betania enable restoration processes beyond financial compensation. Antonio Sánchez, Silvia Martínez, and Fernando Carrascal share their childhood abuse stories and recent meetings with Church representatives. These accounts underscore the lasting impact on their lives.
Antonio Sánchez, 76, endured sexual abuse in 1961 at age seven by a friar while hospitalized for polio in Madrid. "I know it happened several times, but not if three or 14", he recounts. After decades of silence, he reported it in 2022; with Betania's aid, the institution identified the abuser—died 1981—and apologized to him and his family.
Silvia Martínez, nearly 40, was abused by Friar Julio from ages seven to nine at her school. She launched Instagram account RecuerdasaJulio in May 2023 to reach victims. "They stole my life", she said at a January 10, 2026, meeting in a Madrid hotel with six victims, five Church representatives, and Betania members.
Fernando Carrascal, 70, suffered repeated abuses from age three by a neighbor, in seminaries, and by priest uncles. "The greatest harm is hiding who I am from my children", he confesses. He seeks reparation without explicit forgiveness.
Teresa Compte, Betania president—founded 2019—notes they have assisted 185 people and facilitated 40 processes yielding 1.3 million euros in agreements. In recent weeks, the Government and Church have negotiated an indemnity deal overseen by the Ombudsman, with the Church covering costs since January.
