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‘Forgive and forget’: Clergy abuse victims in Cebu face community pressure to drop cases

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The priest leading the Cebu Archdiocese’s safeguarding ministry says it follows a victim-first approach and has a zero tolerance for abuse

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The message to victims of clergy abuse in the Archdiocese of Cebu is clear, even if unspoken: Let it go.

First come the quiet conversations – church volunteers, loyal parishioners, even other clergy members urging survivors to forgive the priest and move on. If that fails, the offers allegedly follow. Money. A settlement. An implicit understanding that a case withdrawn is a problem solved.

It’s not official, but it’s happening, lawyer Michal Gatchalian, a member of a Cebu-based group of lay Catholic volunteers helping victims, said on Sunday, February 2.

These are often not official initiatives, but volunteers in the Church would do it of their own volition.

“It’s not a codified modus operandi. Clericalism is so alive. Katong mga walay labot, mga beata sa simbahan mag-apil-apil dayon maoy muduol sa victim (Those not party to the case, like the women volunteers, they interfere and talk to the victim),” said Gatchalian, a member of a group of lay Catholic volunteers helping victims.

He added, “I don’t even think they were instructed by the personalities concerned but apil-apil lang gyud (they just want to come into the picture).”

If the overtures for forgiveness don’t work, Gatchalian alleged that monetary offers are made, with the withdrawal of the case “very much implied.”

“Og dili mada ang forgiveness, money na, mu-areglo gyud (If forgiveness isn’t forthcoming, they offer money to settle),” said Gatchalian, who is himself alleged to be a victim of sexual abuse by a priest. 

Gatchalian recalled that there were instances when another priest and a politician served as emissaries.

His group is independent of the safeguarding ministry that dioceses were mandated to organize by Pope Francis. It is “dedicated to assisting in making the Catholic Church a safe environment for all, by developing programs and services for abuse prevention, reporting, referral, and case management,” the group said in a letter.

Meanwhile, the Cebu Archdiocese’s safeguarding ministry asserted that it has a “victim-first” approach, but victims and advocates said the Church’s instinct to protect its own runs deep. And for many survivors, justice remains a battle against both the legal system and a community that wants them to stay silent.

In the predominantly Catholic Philippines, priests are looked up to by members of the community. The 2024 Philippine Trust Study by EON The Stakeholders Relations Group, in partnership with Ateneo de Manila University’s Department of Development Studies, found that the Roman Catholic Church “holds a combined trust level of 92.4%, indicating its longstanding presence and role in shaping community values.”

Father Sherwin Leo Ferrater, head of The Safeguarding Ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu, described it as misguided loyalty to priests linked to abuse.

Ferrater said that several times, he has called out the beatas for their mistaken loyalty to priests.

“You should love the Church more than the priest,” Ferrater told Rappler in an interview.

Ferrater said the Cebu Achdiocese’s Safeguarding Ministry has strict protocols and processes already in place. 

He cited the example of two priests in Cebu who have been convicted of sexually abusing minors. Parallel with their criminal trial, the Safeguarding Ministry conducted its own investigation. Ferrater said this is nearly complete.

Once finished, the archdiocese will come up with an acta containing everything about the accusations against the priest, including the court judgment, interviews, and evidence. 

He said it will be sent to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome. It will then evaluate the case and decide on the next course of action – whether to immediately decide on it or ask the archdiocese to hold a full trial. 

Ferrater said the procedures were set in place by Pope Francis in 2019 in Vos Estis Lux Mundi.

“Lahi ang mu-handle sa pari nga makasala, kami kay victim-first, victim-only man mi (The priests are handled separately, we are victim first, victim only),” Ferrater said.

He said they are working to set up child rights advocates in the different parishes in Cebu.

Asked about the statement released by Archbishop Jose Palma after the publication of names of priests accused of sexual abuse of minors, Gatchalian said, “Pwerte kataas (It’s so long), there’s not even a single line of apology.”

“But I realize now, we don’t really need an apology. That’s what Ann Doyle said kay (because) it’s very easy, it’s very cheap. My point is, it took you four pages to write that, you couldn’t even tell us what you did to these two convicted priests?” Gatchalian said, referring to the co-director of BishopAccountability.org.

Gatchalian and other members of the group attended the Zero Tolerance Abuse Summit at the University of the Philippines-Diliman from January 31 to February 2. It was organized by the international advocacy group Ending Clergy Abuse-Global Justice Project. – Rappler.com

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Picture of Written by <span>Max Limpag</span>
Written by Max Limpag
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Preda Foundation Inc.

The work of Preda Foundation is focused on alleviating the physical, emotional, psychological and sexual abuse and suffering of children and preventing abuse through community education and social media.

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