Priest in US Child Sex Case to Face Cbcp Court

ABS-CBNnews.com
February 16, 2012

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/02/16/12/priest-us-child-sex-case-face-cbcp-court

MANILA, Philippines - A Filipino priest convicted of child molestation in the United States will face a case before the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

The case of Father Jose Superiaso is a grim reality that needs to be accepted, according to retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz.

Superiaso, who is based in the US, had an intimate relationship with a Filipina and also sexually abused her 12-year-old sister.

In 2005, Superiaso was convicted of child molestation and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Last month, he was released from jail and turned over to immigration authorities to be deported because since he is not an American citizen.

Cruz said Superiaso will face charges under the court of the church as soon as he arrives in the country.

Cruz is one of the judges in the CBCP's National Tribunal of Appeals.

He said sexual abuse is among grounds for a priest to be removed.

Last year, about 10 Filipino priests faced sexual abuse cases at the National Tribunal of Appeals.

Some of them were removed from the priesthood.

The Catholic Church has been facing similar cases worldwide.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith received more than 4,000 cases of sexual abuse by priests in a span of 10 years.

About 100 bishops from different countries held a conference in Rome recently to find a solution to the problem. - report from Gretchen Malalad, ABS-CBN News