CEBU CITY (PHILIPPINES)
SunStar [Cebu City, Philippines]
February 3, 2025
By Mateo Esteban
Sexual abuse by Catholic priests in the Philippines has drawn renewed scrutiny following the January 2025 release of a database by the US-based watchdog BishopAccountability.org, which identified 82 clergymen—including 34 Filipino and foreign priests accused of abusing minors in the country—linked to cases spanning decades. The allegations range from exploitation, child abuse and rape, often involving victims closely associated with the clergy, such as altar servers or parishioners. While the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines established an Office for the Safeguarding of Minors to address complaints and report to the Vatican, critics argue systemic failures persist, including bishops’ historical silence, repatriation of accused priests to evade prosecution abroad and reliance on internal ecclesiastical processes over criminal accountability. Survivors and advocates highlight the enduring trauma faced by victims, contrasting sharply with the lack of convictions and the reintegration of some accused priests into ministry after canonical reviews. This ongoing crisis underscores the tension between the Church’s efforts to implement reforms under Pope Francis and demands for greater transparency and legal justice in a nation where clerical authority remains deeply influential.