Escola Pia school apologizes for minor abuse during 25 years

Escola Pia school and religious order apologized on Thursday for the abuse of many minors by a former worker between 1980 and 2005 during his time in Senegal.

The education group also regretted not filing any complaint against the former 'escolapi' missionary in spite of being aware of the matter in 2005. They intended "to protect the institution," despite Manel Sales Castellà "sexually abused many minors," a statement shared by the religious order reads.

Sales used to "lie to minors, and take advantage of his role as missionary and authority he had" to perpetrate such acts, which, as the group states, was known by many students and Senegal residents, even by some directors and other colleagues of the different schools of  which Sales was a part of during his time in the African country.

After a number of complaints from students, the missionary was moved to Catalonia but continued to have an important role in the order, even being promoted to chancellor. The complaints, however, did not have any consequences despite the victims, some of which residents in Barcelona, contacted local and Spanish authorities. 

After a French victim filed a complaint in 2018, the order asked Sales on the matter, which he acknowledged his part. Then, the religious group got in touch with victims to offer their support, as well as spoke with Senegalese authorities and religious officials in the Vatican to start a canonical process to expel him. 

He was finally expelled from the order and priesthood in 2019.

As many of the victims were Senegalese, it promoted impunity and victim's silence due to the country punishing homosexuality with prison.