Delayed Church Action After Explicit Warnings

A Barcelona priest, Jorge Alexander P., remained in charge of the Mare de Déu de Montserrat parish in the Guinardó district for months after Archbishop Juan José Omella received detailed allegations of misconduct. Despite being shown video evidence and given testimony by a victim identified as J. in 2022, Omella did not remove the priest from ministry or launch a formal investigation. Instead, the Archdiocese classified the complaint as a "moral issue" between adults and referred the priest to a Jesuit psychologist. The priest admitted to masturbating during a video call with another adult and expressed regret, but continued his pastoral duties.

Second Meeting, Recorded Admission of Doubts

In September 2024, J. met Omella again after hearing new rumours. During this conversation, which J. says he recorded, Omella stated: "I have always had an unanswered question about this priest." This admission has since drawn criticism, as it reveals lingering concerns within Church leadership well before any action was taken. J. had initially avoided going public to protect the Church’s image. He later filed a formal complaint with SAVA, the Church’s victim support service, expressing frustration that Omella offered only spiritual advice rather than psychological help or procedural follow-up.

"One person’s word against another’s," that’s what he told me. No support, no investigation.

, J., abuse complainant

Police Arrest Prompted Church Response

The situation changed in November 2024 when Mossos d’Esquadra, Catalonia’s regional police, detained Jorge Alexander P. on suspicion of sexually abusing both an adult and a minor. Only after the arrest and the start of a judicial investigation did the Church remove him from his post. The vicaría judicial confirmed that all information related to the case has been sent to the ongoing criminal proceedings. However, victims argue the delay allowed further harm. J. contends that earlier action could have prevented additional alleged abuses. When J. pressed for answers via burofax, a certified letter used in Spain, the Archdiocese responded by filing a criminal complaint against him for alleged threats. Spanish courts dismissed the complaint twice.

Church Defends Process, Victims Dispute It

The Archdiocese maintains it followed proper procedure, citing the lack of a formal written complaint in 2022 and the referral to psychological evaluation. But J. insists he provided clear evidence and was failed by institutional inertia. This case reflects broader concerns about how the Spanish Catholic Church handles abuse claims. Critics say Church authorities often wait for legal intervention before acting, undermining trust in internal accountability.

  • The first warning to Omella came more than two years before the priest’s arrest.
  • Omella has reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 but remains in office.
  • No successor has been appointed by the Vatican as of September 2026.

Public discussion over Omella’s continuation in office has intensified, with media outlets including El Mundo and Infovaticana reporting on the unresolved succession. The delay adds to the sensitivity of the abuse case, particularly amid national debates on clerical transparency.

Reported by russpain.com, elpais.com, infovaticana.com, ACN.

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