Church in Spain to open probe into child sex abuse spanning 80 years

Newspaper exposé provokes investigation into allegations against 251 priests and some lay people from religious institutions 

generic stock news catholic cross christianity religion church A cross in a church. Picture: Pexels

Spain's Catholic Church is to open an investigation into alleged sex abuse of hundreds of children by members of the clergy dating back 80 years that the newspaper El Pais has uncovered, the daily said on Sunday.

The investigation will look into allegations of abuse against 251 priests and some lay people from religious institutions that the paper has uncovered, El Pais said.