Bolivia

Bolivia: Spanish Priests Sentenced for Paedophilia Cover-Up

Published SEP 3 2025

Story

Above: A demonstrator at Catedral Basilica de Nuestra Señora de La Paz on May 16, 2024, in Bolivia. Image credit: Gaston Brito/Getty Images

The Facts

A Bolivian court on Tuesday sentenced Spanish Jesuit priests Ramon Alaix, 83, and Marcos Recolons, 81, to one year each in prison for concealing sexual abuse committed by deceased priest Alfonso Pedrajas at the Juan XXIII School in Cochabamba.
Reuters
Ara
Go Communication Bolivia
El País
The convictions mark Bolivia's first successful criminal prosecution against high-ranking Catholic Jesuit order members for concealing abuse cases. Prosecutors argued that the defendants led the order while aware of the allegations.
Ecuavisa
Reuters
Televisión Boliviana (Bolivia TV)
Alfonso Pedrajas, who died in 2009, documented his abuse of at least 85 minors between 1972 and 2000 in his personal diary, which was published in 2023 and sparked international outrage across Latin America.
El País
Reuters
Crux
The Bolivian Community of Survivors claims Pedrajas abused nearly 200 victims, predominantly Indigenous students on scholarships, and that 12 other deceased Jesuits abused as many as 500 minors in Bolivia.
Ecuavisa
Ara
El País de Uruguay
In 2023, Bolivian police seized over 4,000 pages of documentation dating back to the 1980s from Jesuit headquarters, revealing internal complaints and cover-up strategies involving transferring accused priests and silencing victims.
Ecuavisa
El País
National Catholic Reporter
The sentenced priests will be eligible for judicial pardon under Bolivian law for sentences of three years or less, while prosecutors plan to pursue additional cases against other priests named during the trial proceedings.
Ecuavisa
Reuters
RTVE Noticias

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The Spin

Narrative A

This historic ruling finally delivers justice after decades of institutional cover-ups that protected predators while abandoning vulnerable children. The Jesuit hierarchy systematically concealed abuse, transferred offenders, and silenced victims rather than protecting the minors entrusted to their care, perpetuating trauma and deep intergenerational harm.

France 24

Devdiscourse

Narrative B

The Society of Jesus is not a criminal organization and should not be held collectively responsible for the sexual crimes committed by individual priests. It remains committed to truth, justice, and comprehensive care for victims, and continues to work with authorities to clarify facts and ensure accountability for those individuals responsible within the order.

BishopAccountability

Metaculus Prediction

Editor's Note

This story currently has limited coverage. We will continue to monitor all major outlets and update our reporting as additional information becomes available.