CBCP defends Tagle after watchdog questions his track record on clerical sexual abuse

May 4, 2025 , 05:59 PM

By Gabriel Kim Leal

Trigger warning: This article mentions sexual abuse.

(May 4, 2025) – The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Saturday came to the defense of Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle after a United States-based watchdog raised concerns about his response to clerical sexual abuse in the Philippines.

In a statement, the CBCP dismissed claims that Tagle, 67, failed to act on sexual abuse allegations against clergymen during his time as a church leader.

“Since his appointment to a full-time position in the Roman Curia, Cardinal Tagle no longer holds direct authority over any diocese in the Philippines. Consequently, he is not involved in the governance or disciplinary matters of Philippine dioceses,” said the CBCP.

On Friday, BishopAccountability.org, an advocacy group that tracks the Catholic Church’s handling of sexual abuse cases, criticized Tagle and Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin—both considered as possible successors of the late Pope Francis—for what it described as poor records on protecting children.

Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of the group, said if Tagle failed to get bishops to publish sexual abuse guidelines, “what on earth can we expect for him to achieve as pope of a global church?”

Doyle, meanwhile, described Parolin, currently the Vatican’s secretary of state, as a “consummate secret-keeper” and warned that transparency could be “dashed completely” if he becomes the next pope.

The CBCP maintained that Tagle had been involved in crafting pastoral guidelines to address clerical sexual abuse as early as 2003 when he was the archbishop of Manila.

It also clarified that dealing with the issue is the responsibility of local bishops or heads of religious orders, not Tagle’s.

“The CBCP remains steadfast in its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the protection of all members of the (Catholic) Church, especially the most vulnerable,” added the CBCP.

In 2019, Pope Francis appointed Tagle to head the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, one of the most powerful positions in the Vatican, overseeing global missionary work.

Tagle and over 130 other cardinals from around the world will start the conclave to elect the next pontiff on May 7.

(PM)

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