The Spanish parliament voted by a large majority on Thursday to form a commission to investigate sexual abuse in the country's Catholic Church.
All parties except the right-wing populist Vox voted in favour of setting up a commission headed by Spain's ombudsman, Angel Gabilondo Pujol.
Victims of abuse and representatives of the church are also expected to be invited to participate.
It is planned that the commission will present a report to parliament by the end of the year.
Just over a month ago, the Spanish judiciary announced that it would investigate numerous cases of alleged child abuse in the Catholic Church. However, many of the possible crimes were committed so long ago that a statute of limitations applies.
Cases acknowledged
Last year, the Catholic Church in Spain disclosed data on alleged child abuse for the first time.
A bishops' conference announced that since 2001, there had been a total of 220 recorded cases of sexual abuse by Spanish clergy.
In 151 cases, internal investigations had already been completed, it said.
