Elín Hirst, a media personality and former news director at Stöð 2, recalls witnessing inappropriate behavior by Ólafur Skúlason, then Bishop of Iceland, toward her mother when she was a teenager. "This was a pretty intense moment because I was just a teenage girl there, and it didn’t feel natural," she says. She adds that in 1975, such matters were never discussed openly in society. Her account appears in the first episode of the podcast series Biskupsmálið, hosted by Gabríela Bryndís Ernudóttir. The documentary-style episode features interviews with scholars, media figures, survivors, and supporters who provide insight into the case. Thirty years have now passed since the scandal emerged publicly in Iceland. The controversy began when Sigrún Pálína Ingvarsdóttir accused Bishop Ólafur Skúlason of sexual assault from years earlier, when he served as a priest at Bústaðakirkja. Other women came forward with similar allegations, including Guðrún Ebba Ólafsdóttir, his own daughter, who also reported abuse. Ólafur denied the accusations but resigned from his position. The case caused major upheaval in the National Church of Iceland, led to an official investigation, and eventually resulted in compensation for victims. Another bishop, Karl Sigurbjörnsson, also stepped down over his handling of the matter.
Read more: Iceland's Health Minister Admits Decades-Long Nursing Home S....