Thu Jan 30 05:23:22 UTC 2025: ## US Watchdog Exposes Over 80 Catholic Priests Accused of Child Sex Abuse in Philippines
**Manila, Philippines –** A US-based watchdog group, BishopAccountability.org, launched an online database on Wednesday detailing allegations of sexual abuse against more than 80 Roman Catholic priests in the Philippines. The database includes names, photos, and details of alleged assaults dating back over two decades. The group claims the silence of Philippine bishops amounts to a cover-up.
While none of the 82 clergy members, including seven bishops, have been convicted in Philippine courts, BishopAccountability.org argues that the lack of accountability enables further abuse. Director Anne Barrett Doyle criticized the bishops’ silence, urging Philippine prosecutors to investigate church officials who failed to report the abuses. She stated that secrecy protects perpetrators and equates to complicity.
Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, a Philippine church leader, responded that the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has established an office to address such issues and report complaints to the Vatican. However, BishopAccountability.org noted that mechanisms for accountability seen in other countries, such as litigation and government investigations, are largely absent in the Philippines, the world’s third-largest Catholic nation.
The database, compiled from news reports, court documents, and church pronouncements, is considered only “the tip of the iceberg” by the organization. The group expressed alarm that some priests cleared of charges have returned to ministry, potentially endangering more children.
A victim who spoke at the press conference highlighted the enduring trauma faced by survivors, contrasting their lifelong suffering with the relative impunity enjoyed by many of their abusers. The database aims to raise awareness and pressure authorities to take action.
First Piper 