A groundbreaking initiative has emerged as a U.S.-based watchdog organization launches an online database that shines a light on over 80 Roman Catholic priests accused of sexual abuse in the Philippines. The initiative aims to uncover and confront the silence surrounding these serious allegations, which critics argue amounts to a cover-up by Filipino bishops.
The Philippines, being the world's third-largest Roman Catholic nation, has seen discussions around clerical sexual abuse largely muted, particularly in rural communities where clergy members hold esteemed status. This new database, unveiled by BishopAccountability.org, exposes names, faces, and details of alleged assaults on minors, going as far back as two decades.
Despite these serious accusations, none of the 82 clergy, including seven bishops, have been convicted in any Philippine court. Anne Barrett Doyle, a director at BishopAccountability.org, argues that this silence from the bishops has unintentionally facilitated further abuse. She urges Philippine prosecutors to investigate church officials who have failed to report such abuses.
“Philippine bishops feel entitled to their silence...to defend accused priests,” Doyle stated at a press conference in Manila. “Secrecy only benefits the perpetrators,” she continued, highlighting the need for transparency to protect potential victims.
In response, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David emphasized the efforts of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, which has established an office committed to safeguarding minors and vulnerable adults. This office is responsible for reporting complaints to the Vatican, in accordance with mandates from Rome.
Nevertheless, the Philippines has not experienced the scrutiny seen in other countries, such as the U.S., Argentina, Chile, and Ireland, where litigation by victims and governmental investigations have pressured Catholic bishops into accountability. This lack of external mechanisms in the Philippines has allowed some clerics to evade justice and return to church roles, with potential access to victims, raising alarms about the adequacy of church policies.
The database by BishopAccountability.org compiles information from news reports, court documents, and church statements, suggesting that these 82 cases might just scratch the surface of the issue in the Philippines.
Gemma Hickey, a survivor speaking at the Manila news conference, expressed the enduring impact on victims long after the abuse. It’s survivors that serve a life sentence, Hickey conveyed, contrasting the lingering trauma survivors face to the often undisturbed lives of their abusers.
The launch of this database marks a significant step towards accountability and transparency within the Catholic Church in the Philippines, advocating for a transformative approach that prioritizes the welfare of victims over institutional secrecy.
