Only for Two Days
A Barcelona court has indicted a 79-year-old former religious nurse connected to the Jesuit Casp School in Barcelona for an alleged sexual assault against a minor, based on information from court sources. The case began as a police and judicial inquiry in 2023 after complaints filed by four former female students who attended the school. The Barcelona Court of Instruction Number 7 has converted the initial inquiry into a sumario, a stage that signals that investigators will gather further evidence and determine how the case will proceed. The accused, a member of the religious staff, appeared in court this week to be notified of his processing on a single offense, even though prosecutors and the private accusation believe there were two offenses in play and have challenged that decision.
Amado A., the person named in the proceedings, has according to the same sources, invoked his right to refrain from testifying after receiving notice of the processing. The next steps will reveal whether new charges will be added as the investigation unfolds. The four original complaints refer to events from the early 2000s when the victims were between six and eight years old. The alleged misconduct occurred while the students visited the school infirmary for the annual checkups, a routine the accused allegedly exploited to approach them. One of the complainants described an explicit act and another recounted a pattern of inappropriate touching that aligns with what the others allege. The accused has repeatedly denied these accusations throughout the process.
Only for Two Days
The first complainant who initiated the criminal process filed her report last July at a police station while she was outside Catalonia. The investigation was nearly halted when prosecutors noticed a narrow window of two days during which the acts were not time-barred, allowing the case to move forward. The second victim filed her report in September, and the remaining two followed later, submitting their accounts to the prosecutor. The timing underscores how crucial limits and jurisdictional considerations can be in cases of alleged abuse, and how investigators strive to preserve avenues for accountability even when logistical hurdles appear.
Not the first time the Jesuits of Casp have faced abuse allegations. In 2023, ex-students filed complaints against two other religious figures tied to the same institution, though those proceedings did not advance because the crimes were considered prescribed. In response to those reports, the Jesuits condemned the acts and offered apologies, while keeping details about the other individuals involved confidential. The current case adds to a painful chapter that has compelled the community to confront painful memories and to examine safeguards for students during their time at the school.