Crimen Sollicitationis

Ska-P's song "Crimen Sollicitationis" is a powerful and unflinching critique of the Catholic Church's handling of sexual abuse scandals. The title itself references a 1962 Vatican document that outlined procedures for dealing with priests accused of soliciting sexual acts during confession. The lyrics are raw and direct, exposing the hypocrisy and corruption within the Church's hierarchy.

The song opens with a chilling depiction of a priest abusing his power, using religious rituals as a cover for sexual abuse. The repeated references to "tocamientos, sacramentos, felaciones, juramentos" (touching, sacraments, fellatio, oaths) highlight the grotesque perversion of sacred practices. The line "bajo mi sotana puedes encontrar a Dios" (under my cassock, you can find God) is particularly jarring, illustrating the betrayal of trust and the manipulation of faith for sinister purposes.

Ska-P doesn't shy away from naming names, directly calling out Pope Benedict XVI, referred to as "Ratzinger" and "Judas." The lyrics accuse him of formalizing the cover-up of abuse, financing forgiveness, and prioritizing the concealment of scandals over justice for the victims. The repeated use of "Judas" underscores the theme of betrayal, likening the Church's leaders to the apostle who betrayed Jesus.

The song also addresses the broader complicity within the Church, describing members of the Curia and other clergy as "babosos violadores" (drooling rapists) who lack any sense of empathy. The imagery of children praying "desnuditos a los ojos del señor" (naked in the eyes of the Lord) is both heartbreaking and infuriating, emphasizing the innocence of the victims and the monstrous nature of the abuse.

"Crimen Sollicitationis" is a call to action, urging listeners to reject the silence and complicity that have allowed such atrocities to continue. The final lines, "¡Basta de tiranos! ¡¡¡ODIO AL VATICANO!!!" (Enough of tyrants! I hate the Vatican!), leave no room for ambiguity, demanding accountability and justice for the victims of clerical abuse.