Cardinal Cobo Dissolves Spanish Religious Order HAM Amid Abuse Allegations

Cardinal José Cobo Cano, archbishop of Madrid, issued a decree on 28 July ordering the dissolution of the religious institute Hijas del Amor Misericordioso (HAM). The decree ends the institute’s canonical status as a public association of the faithful after a year‑long intervention and an ecclesiastical investigation triggered by reports of alleged sexual abuse, coercive control and abuse of power and conscience.

The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith continues canonical proceedings on the case, while civil authorities in Spain have received complaints that are under police and prosecutorial review. HAM, which has about 120 sisters in three communities in Los Molinos (Madrid), Carmona (Seville) and Escalona (Toledo), says it will appeal the decree and may take the case to Rome, though canon lawyers note that an appeal does not automatically suspend the order’s suppression.

The former superior, María Milagrosa Pérez Caballero, is also named in the allegations. No convictions have been recorded and all parties retain the presumption of innocence pending further investigation.