Filipino bishops defend papal contender Tagle over handling of clerical sex abuses

ISTANBUL

Filipino Catholic bishops are defending one of their own on the eve of elections to choose a new pope, with Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle in the running to fill the papal seat.

In a rare statement over the weekend, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) outlined its stance over the issue of clerical sexual abuse, saying that guidelines on sexual abuse and misconduct by the clergy were developed in the early 2000s to address alleged incidents.

The statement highlighted Tagle’s active work during his tenure as bishop of Imus and archbishop of Manila, the capital, where he advocated for a “humble and responsive Church that listens to the cries of the wounded and acts decisively to protect the vulnerable.”

Tagle’s appointment in the Roman Curia was underlined as distancing him from current CBCP affairs, as he “no longer holds direct authority over any diocese in the Philippines,” said the statement.

This statement comes as Tagle is the running to succeed the late Pope Francis by the Vatican conclave.

A group called the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests called for an investigation into Tagle, and five other cardinals, in relation to the handling of alleged child abuse cases by Caritas Internationalis in New Zealand and the Central African Republic, according to British daily The Guardian.

Campaigners argue that Tagle did not do enough to tackle the perennial sexual abuse problem in the church.

The Papal Conclave is expected to gather on Wednesday to elect a new pope.