‘David vs Goliath’ situation
When child victims complain of abuse, they automatically go up against the accused, well-supported priest. Bishops who protect pedophile priests and cover up their heinous crimes sometimes pay off the victims’ families or influence prosecutors and judges. They are hindering the attainment of justice.
Needless to say, our justice system is broken. It often takes years to secure justice despite a Supreme Court circular that mandates continuous hearings for child abuse cases. It is always a David-and-Goliath situation in such cases: the powerless child abuse survivor against his or her powerful abuser. He or she can only hope and pray for justice.
Unfortunately, many abused children can’t endure the stress of the case; they give up when they are offered money to withdraw. That seems to be the strategy of defense lawyers, with the connivance of some judges. When this happens, it makes a mockery of the justice system in this country.
At least three priests are facing complaints in civil courts. One of them has been on trial since 2023 for multiple rape and sexual-assault charges against a 15-year-old girl. Another is accused of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old boy and is out on bail and has had his hearings postponed on several occasions. And the third was able to have his case of sexual assault against a young girl provisionally dismissed, but it was refiled before it was dismissed with finality. He is awaiting a long-delayed trial.
Most Filipino clergymen are committed to the Gospel message of standing for truth and justice. They know these words of Jesus: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6). They are disgusted and ashamed by all the abuse and cover-up and the dark cloud these hang over their ministry, but most are not free to speak out. They seem to have lost or surrendered their freedom to their superiors and the Church hierarchy, upon whom they depend. That is what synodality might change.
It is immoral, unjust and illegal to obstruct justice, yet some bishops still consider this their best strategy to avoid embarrassment, scandal and loss of trust and financial donations among the laity due to the clerical child abuse scandal.
A policy reversal could enhance the image of the Church. If bishops were to advise their pedophile priests to repent, publicly confess and accept due penance in a civil court, and help child victims win convictions, they would be regarded as heroes who defended the victims and cleansed the Church of its proverbial bad apples. However, there are now so many bad apples, the barrel containing them might now be contaminated.
Bishops, priests and all followers of Jesus of Nazareth are called to imitate him and be humble “washers of feet.” They will be greater in the Kingdom of Heaven by walking in the mud and dust than sitting on thrones in golden robes. Jesus said that he came to serve and not to be served. We need more to heed that call./PN
