The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’has issued a rare statement on clerical sexual abuse, defending Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle on the issue days before the opening of a conclave to elect a new pope.
The CBCP posted a statement to its Facebook page Saturday night saying that “addressing allegations of misconduct by clergy rests with the respective diocesan bishops or religious superiors” and not with Tagle.
“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,” the statement dated May 2 reads.
It also noted the key role Tagle—who served as archbishop of Manila between 2011 and 2019—had played in crafting pastoral guidelines on sexual abuse that were disseminated in 2003.
Watchdog group BishopAccountability.org warned Friday that Tagle and Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin could not be relied on to protect children, with its co-director accusing the church in the Philippines of remaining in the “dark ages.”
Both men are considered frontrunners to replace Pope Francis. Cardinals from around the world are currently in the Vatican, ahead of a conclave on Wednesday of the eligible ones among them to elect a new pontiff.
Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of BishopAccountability.org, said Friday that guidelines dealing with sexual abuse cases have not been published on the webpages of the Manila archdiocese nor the bishops’ conference of the Philippines.
“If Cardinal Tagle cannot even get his brother bishops from his home country to publish guidelines, what on earth can we expect for him to achieve as pope of a global church?” asked Doyle.
The document cited by the CBCP, “Pastoral Guidelines on Sexual Abuses and Misconduct by the Clergy,” could not be found on the body’s website by Agence France Presse (AFP) journalists Sunday.
Doyle reserved even harsher criticism for Italian cardinal Parolin, calling him a “consummate secret-keeper” and saying “any hope of transparency around sex abuse will be dashed completely,” were he to be elected.
Meanwhile, the Holy See Press Office released images and video of the Sistine Chapel on Saturday as preparations continue for the conclave that begins on May 7.
On Friday, the Vatican’s fire brigade was seen atop the Sistine Chapel’s roof installing the chimney that will emit black smoke if at least 89 Cardinals have not agreed on the next Pope.
White smoke is expected to signal that the 133 Cardinal electors have decided on the man to lead the Catholic Church into the future.
The Cardinal electors will begin May 7 in St. Peter’s Basilica at 10:00 AM with the pre-conclave votive Mass Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice, to pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance as they elect a new Pope.
At 4:30 PM that same afternoon, the 133 Cardinal electors will gather in the Pauline Chapel to pray the Litany of the Saints, before processing into the nearby Sistine Chapel.
Following the procession, the Cardinals swear an oath committing each of them to faithfully fulfill the Munus Petrinum as Pastor of the Universal Church, if they are elected.
The oath also binds the Cardinal electors to absolute secrecy regarding all details surrounding the election of the new Pope, while promising to rebuff any attempts from outside to sway the election.
The Master of Pontifical Liturgical Ceremonies then proclaims ‘extra omnes,’ ordering everyone not involved in the conclave to leave the Sistine Chapel.
Next, Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, Preacher Emeritus of the Papal Household, will deliver the second meditation to the Cardinal electors, in the presence of the Master of Liturgical Ceremonies.
Afterwards, both the 90-year-old Cardinal and the Master of Liturgical Ceremonies leave the Sistine Chapel and voting begins. With Vatican News
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “CBCP defends Tagle over criticisms on clerical sex abuse”