Reinforcing our vow for security and responsibility: A declaration of dedication towards maintaining transparency and ethical practices.
Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP): A Sincere Apology and a Commitment to Healing
Saying sorry isn't enough—we get it. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) knows this too, which is why we stand in solidarity with anyone harmed by abuse, not just the clergy. We know how deep the wounds go and we're committed to healing, justice, and renewal.
Historical Stance on Clergy Abuse
In the early 2000s, the CBCP took a stand against clergy abuse with the development of the Pastoral Guidelines on Sexual Abuses and Misconduct by the Clergy. These guidelines, created to address sexual abuse in the Philippines, emphasized victim care, community healing, offender assessment, and appropriate sanctions for transgressors. Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, who served as Bishop of Imus and later Archbishop of Manila, was a key player in the drafting and implementation of these guidelines. He's long advocated for a Church that listens and acts for the protection of the vulnerable.
Ongoing Efforts and Structures
With directives from the Holy See, the CBCP established the Office for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons. The office aims to shape safeguarding best practices and support dioceses in implementing protective measures. Each diocese is required to establish its own office dedicated to the protection of minors and vulnerable adults so every Church institution becomes a secure space for all.
Accountability and Responsibilities
Under Canon Law, it's the diocesan bishops who bear the primary responsibility for handling abuse allegations within their dioceses. They conduct preliminary investigations and, if necessary, report cases to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. For clergy belonging to religious congregations, their superiors share the same responsibilities. Filipino priests abroad fall under the jurisdiction of the bishops in the dioceses where they are based. If such a priest returns to the Philippines, the foreign diocese must notify the relevant Philippine diocesan authorities.
Cardinal Tagle's Current Role
Since his appointment to the Roman Curia, Cardinal Tagle no longer has direct authority or governance responsibilities over any Philippine diocese, according to recent CBCP statements. Consequently, he is not involved in diocesan governance or disciplinary matters in the Philippines. The responsibility for addressing allegations of misconduct by clergy lies with individual diocesan bishops or religious superiors. Tagle's influence now seems limited to broad pastoral advocacy rather than direct administrative oversight.
- Not only the clergy, but anyone harmed by abuse within the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is supported and cared for, reflecting the commitment to healing, justice, and renewal.
- The Pastoral Guidelines on Sexual Abuses and Misconduct by the Clergy, developed by the CBCP in the early 2000s, emphasized victim care, community healing, offender assessment, and appropriate sanctions for transgressors, marking an early historical stance against clergy abuse.
- The CBCP's Office for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons seeks to establish safeguarding best practices, ensuring every Church institution in the Philippines is secure and free from abuse.
- As per Canon Law, it is the responsibility of diocesan bishops to handle abuse allegations within their dioceses, with the requirement for each diocese to establish an office dedicated to the protection of minors and vulnerable adults.
- Although no longer having direct authority over any Philippine diocese, Cardinal Tagle's influence remains in broad pastoral advocacy for a Church that protects the vulnerable, particularly in matters relating to health-and-wellness, sexual health, and justice for all Filipinos.
