Philippine Bishops Defend Tagle Amid Clerical Abuse Allegations

Ahead of the conclave to elect a new pope, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) issued a rare statement defending Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle from criticism regarding his record on clerical sexual abuse. Watchdog group BishopAccountability.org argued that both Tagle and Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin could not be relied upon to protect children, accusing the Philippine Church of being in the 'dark ages' and noting the lack of published abuse guidelines. The CBCP emphasized that since joining the Roman Curia, Tagle no longer oversees any Philippine dioceses and pointed to his role in formulating the 2003 Pastoral Guidelines on Sexual Abuses and Misconduct by the Clergy. Critics, however, highlighted that these guidelines are not publicly accessible on official church websites, raising transparency concerns. The CBCP also noted the establishment of diocesan offices and the Office for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons to address abuse cases. The debate underscores differing perspectives on accountability and transparency within the Church as it prepares for new leadership.