Panama Church Begins Evaluation of 25 Years of Child Abuse Cases

The Catholic Church in Panama has begun an evaluation of its conduct in cases of abuse of minors that occurred over the past 25 years. This was announced on Sunday by Metropolitan Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa. The evaluation is being carried out by an independent commission supported by the universities of Notre Dame (USA) and Villanueva (Spain). "The heart of this path will be the respectful and confidential listening to victims, those who have already been heard and those who have not yet spoken," said the prelate. He added that this will be done "with humility and a firm desire to look reality in the face, without evasions or justifications, putting victims and their dignity at the center." Jordi Pujol, coordinator of the Transparency Commission, stated that the main objective is to conduct a holistic assessment, going beyond cold statistics, to understand how these abuse cases occurred and how the institution reacted to them. The Church is "fully aware of the deep pain that reliving these experiences entails," and therefore this process will take place in a safe, empathetic, and absolutely respectful framework, guaranteeing confidentiality and the protection of the identity of those who decide to share their testimony. Adrián Cuevas, a lawyer and member of the Catholic Church's Listening Office team, affirmed that upon learning of cases of minor abuse, there is a commitment to report them to the competent authorities. Archbishop Ulloa reiterated the "zero-tolerance policy" against this scourge, stating that this evaluation is "an act of Christian coherence, accountability, and a real commitment to ensure safe spaces in all our church communities." This central phase will run from January 28 to April 30, 2026, and is aimed at both direct and indirect victims of abuse suffered during childhood and adolescence. The commission will publish a report with its findings in September 2026. There is no official and exact figure for abuse of children and adolescents by members of the Catholic Church in Panama, although there are emblematic cases, such as the 30-year prison sentence given in August 2023 to a former priest for the crimes of aggravated rape, obscene exhibitionism, and libidinous acts against a 5-year-old child.