During a press conference held on January 29, 2025, in Manila, a U.S.-based abuse watchdog organization, BishopAccountability.org, revealed the names of 82 Filipino priests and brothers publicly accused of sexually abusing minors.
The press event highlighted the group’s online database, which aims to shed light on abuse cases tied to the Catholic Church in the Philippines, the third-largest Catholic nation in the world.
Call for Action Against Silence
Anne Barrett Doyle, the co-director of BishopAccountability.org, used the opportunity to criticize the lack of action from the Philippines’ bishops regarding these abuse cases.
She accused them of feeling “entitled to their silence” and of protecting accused priests by withholding information about sexual violence. “Secrecy only benefits the perpetrators.
Secrecy equals complicity,” Doyle emphasized in her statements, calling on Philippine authorities to investigate the church officials who failed to report these abuses.
Details of the Database and Its Scope
The newly launched online database gathers information from news reports, court documents, Church announcements, and other public sources.
It includes information about Filipino priests accused of abusing minors both within the Philippines and while working in the United States.
The database also highlights priests from other countries, such as the U.S., Ireland, and Australia, who served in the Philippines and have been accused of similar offenses.
This effort seeks to bring more transparency to these abuse cases, which have often remained hidden for years.
No Convictions Yet
Despite the grave accusations, none of the 82 clergy members listed in the database, including seven bishops, have been convicted in civil court for these alleged crimes.
Doyle continues to advocate for a thorough investigation into the actions of Philippine bishops and church officials who have failed to take action against these accused individuals.
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