Church sexual abuses not prevalent in Philippines — CBCP exec

MANILA, Philippines — While there may be sexual abuses committed by members of the clergy, an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said yesterday incidents in the Philippines are not as prevalent as in other countries. 

CBCP-Public Affairs Committee (PAC) executive secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano said Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle was not only referring to the Philippines when the cardinal reportedly admitted that the Catholic Church left deep wounds when it ignored the sufferings of the victims of clergy sex abuse.

Tagle was the first speaker on the protection of minors in the Church during a high-level summit to prevent sexual abuses committed by Church leaders.

Pope Francis opened last Thursday the four-day summit that the Vatican hosted.  

In his speech, Tagle urged the Church leaders not to shy away from acknowledging the pain of the victims.

He was quoted as saying, “We need to put aside any hesitation to draw close to the wounds of our people out of fear of being wounded ourselves. Our people need us to draw close to their wounds and acknowledge our faults if we are to give authentic and credible witness to our faith in the resurrection.” 

But Secillano clarified “what the cardinal said pertains to the whole Church.”

“He was not alluding to the Philippines,” Secillano said.

The CBCP official added sexual abuses committed by the clergy were not only against minors but adults as well. But he clarified that the offenses made against adults were most likely “consensual affairs.” 

He added that clergy sexual abuses “are being addressed.”

“Priests are investigated and some are sent to a facility for reformation, while others are either suspended or defrocked,” Secillano said.

San Pablo, Laguna Bishop Buenaventura Famadico added that every diocese or congregation is doing its best to address the issue. –  With Christina Mendez