Priests at large

Everything’s popping up online. Long-lost friends, photographs you never wish seen, even a database on Roman Catholic priests accused of sexual abuse.

That’s right. When in doubt as to the celibacy of your priest, check out the site run by Bishop Accountability.Org. Now, I don’t know why there is an inordinate focus on bishops, when other priests are also molesters, but that’s the name of the group.

In the Philippines alone, over 80 priests and bishops are identified as having been accused of molestation. However, some of the accused are already deceased, so it’s not as juicy as some would think it is, but there are some fairly recent incidents reported.

I looked at the site not because I’m a gossip-monger but in the interest of journalism, I thought it would be best to familiarize with the site before waxing profanely on the subject. Nope, there was no desire at all to check if some priests I know, and whom I suspected to be gay, were on the list. None.

But what a great idea. Whenever someone will butt in with alternative facts about the existence of molesting Catholic priests, all that I need to do is point to this site. It contains what may not be a definitive list of Philippine priestly abusers, but definitely, a very long one.

I had to rummage around the website before I could find the section on the Philippines. So many documented priest abusers all over the world, especially in the US. Although perhaps, one should say, documentation is much better in North America, as opposed to all the other poor countries where abusive priests were deployed, where one would not expect a vigilant and outspoken citizenry.

Come to think of it, plenty of the priests listed in the Philippine section were either Caucasians who had originated elsewhere, or Filipinos who served time in America before returning home. Or rather, before fleeing back to their home country, after complaints filed by abused American children surfaced.

A scattered few were located in Cebu. Whether they are all native Cebuanos, one can only surmise. The famous Father Garcia, the possessor of the controversial ivory trove, is prominent. A local daily trumpeted that those in Cebu number at least 10. Some are still performing religious duties, so they are at large.

The San Carlos diocese has purportedly released a statement that two priests on that list and belonging to the order were on “administrative leave” and “not engaged in ministerial duties”. It says almost all the right things about due process, protecting victims, and providing a venue for those with information.

The statement takes a defensive note when tackling the sightings of the two priests at certain religious rites. It explains that while the two are on leave, they are participating as “co-celebrants in certain liturgical events” which shouldn’t be taken as indications they are on “active pastoral duty”. Are they are on passive pastoral duty then?

There is also a statement purportedly by the dean of San Beda University Law school (a revered priest from the Benedictine order is in the list). The expected avowals of assisting the victims and giving due process to the accused are muttered, matched by a castigation of the press for sensationalizing allegations that were dismissed, anyway. True, some of that. Some accusations might be fabricated. Some journalists need stories. But the argumentation needs sharpening.

“To hold accountable is not necessarily to convict. If that were so, then every accusation would be presumed to be true,” the dean says. Non-sequitur? I would posit that, if someone is guilty, then they must be held accountable, which means to convict. If someone is innocent, then they shouldn’t be held accountable, because there is nothing to account for.

The Catholic orders must have had a turbulent week if they are all coming out with these reactions. In part, Bishop Accountability.org is successful. A spotlight has been thrown, and the public has gained visibility on the whereabouts of these accused. Same concept as NIMBY (not in my back yard) proponents. Mission partially accomplished, and hopefully, there will be developments on the internal cases pending for a couple of years, even while the priests are concelebrating non-liturgical events.

Ex-president Duterte can also add to this site the name of the priest he claims abused him when he was a boy. Is he still alive? Will he be held accountable?

What a feat for that priest, if that were true. Imagine. He fondles a boy, and the boy becomes the mighty and the terrible Duterte. What consequences are reaped.