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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 2 February 2022
Spain: Clergy abuse victims hopeful at signs to end impunity

By ARITZ PARRA ings.
MADRID (AP) — After de- But Spanish media have
cades of neglect, victims of reported that the pope
sexual abuse by the Span- breached the topic during
ish clergy say that they are a meeting last month with
finally seeing momentum emissaries of the Spanish
building in their quest for Episcopal Conference.
real accountability and The body representing the
reparations. bishops of all Spain has re-
On Tuesday, Spanish law- jected opening up a com-
makers took the first step to- prehensive investigation
ward opening a parliamen- and instead encourages
tary inquiry on the issue, a victims to come forward
move that victims hail as a and report their allegations
potential game-changer. to offices that it has set up
Prosecutors are also step- in each of the country's di-
ping up efforts to dig deep- oceses.
er into existing and new "The only ones missing in
allegations. And Spain's this latest wave of efforts
left-to-center government are the Spanish bishops,
is gauging whether to back who should step aside and
the parliamentary probe refrain from obstructing ef-
or to launch another inde- forts to investigate," said
pendent effort. Miguel Hurtado, who has campaigned against impunity since disclosing his own account of being Hurtado, adding that the
"It looks like as if public in- abused at a monastery in northeastern Spain, poses for a picture in front of a Spanish parliament Catholic Church in Spain
stitutions have finally re- in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022. should open up its archives
alized that the raping of Associated Press and be ready to financially
children is of general inter- compensate victims.
est, a grave violation of nando García Salmones, and who should do it." some of the abuses it had "Politicians should pass laws
human rights and that the spokesman of the Robbed The stacking up of differ- found with Pope Francis, to make sure that bishops
state should intervene," Childhood Association of ent initiatives comes after who has tried to sensitize go to jail if they covered up
said Miguel Hurtado, who sexual abuse victims. Spain's leading newspa- the church to the prob- abuse cases," he added.
has campaigned against García Salmones, who is per, El País, documented lem of clergy abuse and El País has reported that
impunity since disclosing among the few victims at least 611 cases of abus- passed laws to hold the only nine of Spain's 31 dio-
his own account of being who have received com- es perpetrated by priests, hierarchy accountable for ceses have reached out to
abused at a monastery in pensation from a religious members of religious or- covering it up. the newsroom or directly to
northeastern Spain. order, said that the ques- ders and people working The Vatican hasn't publicly some of the victims in the
"We can't say we are happy tion is no longer whether for them over several de- responded to the El País re- paper's investigation.
until we see results, but this Spain should investigate cades, involving at least ports or the database. Pre- The Episcopal Conference
is a very hopeful moment the abuses. The debate, he 1,246 victims. viously, it has commented declined to comment on
for those of us fighting to be said, has shifted: "Now it's In late December, the pa- after independent reports the latest moves to investi-
noticed for years," said Fer- more about how to do it, per shared a list including have produced their find- gate the abuse. q

New U.S. envoy to Japan vows support amid regional tensions

By MARI YAMAGUCHI and The American envoy criti- force along the Ukraine
HARUKA NUGA cized China's use of "coer- border "a clear and conse-
TOKYO (AP) — Washington cion, intimidation and dis- quential threat to peace,
is "fully committed" to work- information" as its influence security and a rules-based
ing with Japan to confront rises in the region. system."
growing regional tensions, Emanuel arrived in Tokyo in Hayashi said he hoped to
the new U.S. ambassador late January, amid esca- "develop a relationship in
to Tokyo, Rahm Emanuel, lating North Korean missile which we can have can-
said Tuesday. tests. did discussions so that we
Emanuel was speaking at "North Korea is testing mis- can further strengthen our
a meeting with Japanese sile capabilities, testing re- alliance."
Foreign Miniser Yoshimasa gional stability and testing Emanuel's ambassador-
Hayashi, where the two the global community's pa- ship to Japan will become
discussed issues including tience," he said. official after he presents
North Korea's missile ad- North Korea on Monday his credentials to Emperor Japan's Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, right, fist bumps
vancement and China's in- said it test-launched the Naruhito in a palace cer- with new U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel during a
creasingly assertive actions day before an intermedi- emony. Afterwards he is ex- meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022.
in the Asia Pacific. ate-range ballistic missile pected to meet with Prime Associated Press
"The United States is fully capable of reaching the Minister Fumio Kishida, Jap-
committed to working with U.S. territory of Guam, the anese media reported. istration. U.S.-Japan partnership.
Japan as a full ally to coun- North's most significant Emanuel is a former three- Emanuel arrived in Japan The post of U.S. ambassa-
ter the challenges and to weapon launch in years, term congressman who to assume the post at a dor to Japan was vacant
really realizing our shared as Washington has vowed served as Barack Obama's moment when President for more than two years
vision for a truly free and support for its Asian allies. first White House chief of Joe Biden is trying to in- after William Hagerty left
open Indo-Pacific," said Emanuel also called Rus- staff and was a senior ad- crease focus on the Indo- in July 2019 to run for the
Emanuel. sia's amassing of military viser in Bill Clinton's admin- Pacific and strengthen the Senate.q