Sexual Abuse by Clergy

Abril, Dave Chua, Elvina Chua, Janine Chuacuco, Neill Melchor, Joseph Ngo, Patrick

Introductory Video

FACTS
Over 95% of victims of sexual exploitation by clergy are adult women In Philippines, about 200 of the 7,000 Catholic priests committed some kind of sexual misconduct. In 2002, the Catholic hierarchy in the Philippines apologized for the reported xual abuses, including adultery, homosexuality and child abuse by at least 200 priests over the past 20 years. In 2003, at least 34 priests were suspended in a sex abuse scandal involving sexual harassment of women.

What is Sexual Abuse?

Sexual abuse is when someone in a position of power or authority takes advantage of a persons trust and respect to involve them in sexual activity. It can involve any of the examples above. Sexual abuse can occur between: A child and an adult A child and an older child A patient and a doctor A student and a teacher A parishioner and a priest

Republic Act No. 8353

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "The Anti-Rape Law of 1997."

Sec. 2. Rape as a Crime Against Persons. - The crime of rape shall hereafter be classified as a Crime Against Persons under Title Eight of Act No. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code. Accordingly, there shall be incorporated into Title Eight of the same Code a new chapter to be known as Chapter Three on Rape, to read as follows:

Article 266 - A. Rape: When and How Committed

Rape is committed: "1) By a man who shall have carnal knowledge of a woman under any of the following circumstances: "a) Through force, threat, or intimidation; "b) When the offended party is deprived of reason or otherwise unconscious; "c) By means of fraudulent machination or grave abuse of authority; and "d) When the offended party is under twelve (12) years of age or is demented, even though none of the circumstances mentioned above be present.

How Philippines perceive Catholic

- third-largest Roman Catholic country in the world after Brazil and Mexico - About 80 percent of the 100 million people in the Philippines consider themselves Catholics, a legacy of 350 years of Spanish colonial rule. Politicians often refrain from crossing the church which is why both abortion and divorce remain illegal. - the high point for the modern Catholic Church in the Philippines came during the People Power revolution of the 1980s.

Role of a Priest
Community Leader
- One of the most satisfying things about being a priest is being part of a faith community and being a pastoral leader. - This involves presiding at communal worship. It also involves being among smaller communities, such as families at big moments like weddings and baptisms. - Priests are called upon to enter the lives of people when life is darkened with sadness and difficulty. - Even through these difficult moments, a priest can experience a profound satisfaction that they have been an instrument of God.

Messenger of Hope
A critical part of a priest's mission is to tell Christ's story of hope. That story brings comfort to those who are weak and without a voice. The story is intended to disturb and activate those who have the power to make the world a better place.

Spiritual Guide
- The priest of the future will continue that tradition of assisting people to develop their spirituality. - The future priest will also need to explore ways of helping people make spiritual sense of their lives in a dynamic and changing world. Before doing these things, priests are students of prayer themselves. A priest develops his personal relationship with God, to learn the ways of God and to lead others on those paths.

How Filipino view priest

- Father Figure for many filipinos - Ever since the spanish area (GOMBURZA) , filino priests are always looked up to in this country - Look for them for advice in every problem that they have - A representation of God here on earth

What are some cases of sexual abuse?

sexual abuse in seminaries sexual assault by youth ministers inappropriate behavior by campus ministers teen pregnancies resulting from assault sentencing of clergy found guilty of youth victimization

What Christian religions are affected?

Anglican Church in Australia Apostolic Baptist Calvary Chapel Catholic Christian Scientist Church of England Church of the Nazarene Disciples of Christ Seventh Day Adventist And many more...

Societal Myths under Clergy Abuse

celibacy causes unethical clergy sexual behavior it's an affair "she asked for it" retaliation against whistleblowers revictimization of victims and their families harm the whole congregation "secondary victims"

Issues
- On 1 August 1990, Fr. Agustin Cuenca, OFM, a parish priest assigned to the Our Lady of the Abandoned Church in Sta. Ana, Manila, was accused of sexually molesting two of his teenaged acolytes. The complaint alleged that his accusers, 15 and 16 years old, were abused sexually for a period of two years starting in December 1988 until June 1990 by Cuenca. - In the city of Dagupan, north of Metro Manila, Fr. Macario Apuya, SVD of the Saint Therese Parish, was accused of two criminal charges, one charge of rape and one of child abuse as defined under R. A. No. 7610.... The case had historical significance since it was the very first time that a priest was being prosecuted for pedophilia in the Philippines. -In August 2011, activist women's group Gabriela assisted a 17-year old girl in filing sexual abuse allegations against a priest in Butuan province. The bishop of Butuan, Juan de Dios Pueblos, took the priest under his custody without handing him over to civil and church authorities.This behaviour was also heavily criticized by retired Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz, who blamed Pueblos for showing his priests the "wrong way"

Issues
In 2010, an investigation within 21 countries across six continents happened and Associated Press (AP) found out that 4 out of 30 Catholic priests, involving abuse cases, were Filipinos. Rev. Moises Alexis C. Javier was accused by two altar boys of molesting them in 2001-02 at a Catholic school about three hours Rev. Cristobal Garcia was expelled from the Dominican order in 1986 after a nun told the police that an altar boy had been found in his bed in a Los Angeles rectory. He told the Dallas Morning News that he did have sex with the boys, but claim he was the one who was seduced and raped

Issues
Rev. Manuel Perez Maramba had a lawsuit alleging sexual abuse in the U.S. more than 30 years ago. Marambas lawyers said he was not party to the settlement. Rev. Santiago Tamayo was accused of abusing Rita Milla in Los Angeles area when she was 16. After she turned 18, she said that she had sexual intercourse with Tamayo and he introduced her to six other priests who also abused her. She was impregnated by another priest, then Tamayo suggested she get an abortion, but she didnt do it.

Issues
In 2012, Msgr. Cristobal Garcia has been suspended and stripped of his positions in the archdiocese of Cebu on orders of the Vatican after being accused of molesting altar boys more than 20 years ago in the U. S.

References:
http://www.vaticancrimes.us/2012/01/hundreds-of-priests-suspected-of-abuse.html http://www.ucanews.com/news/philippine-bishops-accused-of-abuse-cover-up/68411 http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/143605/sex-abuse-victims-defer-to-church-afraid-to-report http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/03/13/13/woman-abused-pinoy-priests-pins-hope-new-pope http://www.kemh.health.wa.gov.au/services/sarc/what_is.htm#abuse http://www.chanrobles.com/republicactno8353.htm#.Ug-g5xYmX6w http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/philippines/130520/catholic-church-reproductive-rights-law

http://filipinofreethinkers.org/2010/04/21/catholic-priests-accused-abuse-philippines/ http://www.sunstar.com.ph/network/4-30-abusive-catholic-priests-are-pinoys-602-pm http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/277960/priest-suspended-on-20-year-old-child-abuse-raps

http://www.adultsabusedbyclergy.org/