CBCP cracks down on sexual offenders

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has vowed to crack down on sexual offenders among the Catholic clergy even as it drafts rules and sanctions to govern future misconduct.

"The guidelines, to be adopted in September, address both the punitive and the healing aspects of sanctions and measures imposed," the CBCP said in a statement released after the conclusion of the 87th plenary assembly held over the weekend in Tagaytay City.

The protocol comes amid allegations against two prominent members of the clergy — Novaliches Bishop Teodoro Bacani for sexual harassment and erstwhile Antipolo bishop Crisostomo Yalung for fathering two children with one of his parishioners.

"Today we once more point an accusing finger at ourselves. The entire Catholic Church in the Philippines is suffering in great anguish as its integrity is raked over the coals with cases of actual or alleged sexual misconduct of some of its shepherds (priests)," said outgoing CBCP president Archbishop Orlando Quevedo.

Pedophile priests face expulsion, the children of priest-fathers will not be supported by the Catholic Church and priests involved in sexual harassment cases will be dealt with depending on the circumstances.

These are only some of the highlights of the CBCP’s draft protocol on sexual behavior, the highlights of which were made public yesterday at a press conference.

Lipa City Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales, who was among those who attended the press conference, said the protocol tackled four main issues, which he had earlier revealed to The STAR: addressing the needs of the victim, healing of the community, assessing the damage, and imposing sanctions in proportion to the crime committed.

Rosales explained that punishment is one of the more contentious issues of the document.

"Opinions differ as to punishment. There are those who say one strike and you are out but that may not be fair as it may even go against the human rights of the offender," said Quevedo.

But he said the extreme penalty of expulsion from the Catholic Church may be imposed on "serial offenders" and in sexual abuse of minors, which according to a prepared CBCP statement is "certainly very different" (from sexual harassment) and therefore the punishment must also be different."

Church leaders wanted to ensure the document is "in accord with legal procedures, both civil and canonical," the statement said.

Quevedo said the committee refining the document, which is headed by Rosales, gave an Aug. 15 deadline for all inputs so that the document will be ready by September. But it will be submitted to the Vatican for approval, he said.

"We want the protocol in place very quickly," Quevedo said, adding that a special board in every diocese will be composed of civil and canon lawyers as well as psychologists.

The Church, he said, will also provide seminars for its personnel to help the victims.

As to priest fathers, Quevedo made it clear that the Catholic Church will not help support the child of erring members.

"When the offender cannot help, the family of priests can help and if ever the church will help it will be out of charity and not out of justice," he said.

"Because if the Diocese will pay, it will be an incentive to them because they know it will be the Church that will take responsibility," he explained. — With AFP report