China claims papal critique over Uyghurs has ‘no factual basis at all’

Pope Francis addresses elderly and sick people on his final day in Singapore on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, marking the conclusion of his 12-day, four-country apostolic journey to Asia and Oceania — the longest trip of his pontificate to date. / Cre… […]

Tokyo, Japan, Apr 13, 2019 / 06:01 am (CNA).- Catholic bishops in Japan have said they will investigate reports of clergy sex abuse of minors dating back at least as far as 20 years, and they believe many victims might still be reluctant to come forward.

Committees have been established in all 16 dioceses to receive claims and consultations about abuse, the Japanese bishops’ conference said April 8, announcing the decision of the conference standing committee. The specifics of an inquiry are not yet decided, but it will revisit previous reports for an “in-depth investigation,” the Japan Times reports.

The bishops are considering seeking help from external bodies.

In 2002 an internal survey made inquiries with the leading priest in each diocese. This resulted in two reported cases of sex abuse.

A 2012 survey aimed to be a reference point in a manual for internal use. It did not aim to investigate facts or to resolve sex abuse. Five sex abuse cases were reported then.

These surveys’ results will now be investigated to examine whether accused abusers faced punishment and how bishops responded to the victims, the Washington Post reports.

A 2004 survey on sexual harassment found 17 cases of “coercive physical contacts,” mostly by priests. The victims included minors. That survey had 110 respondents.

“Many of the alleged cases such as coercive physical contacts were forced by priests,” said the bishops’ conference. “We believe there are still a significant number of people who cannot speak up even today, 15 years since the survey.”

A 62-year-old man came forward alleging sexual abuse by a priest when he was at a Catholic boys’ school in Tokyo. Other Catholic schools have faced sex abuse allegations as well.

The Japanese Times in 2014 reported on alleged abuse of minors at St. Mary’s International School in Tokyo beginning in 1965. At least one case was later investigated by police.

There are about 440,000 Catholics in Japan, making up 0.3% of the population.

Pope Francis is set to visit Japan in November. In February he held an unprecedented meeting with the world’s Catholic bishops on sex abuse of minors in the Church.

“Let it be clear that before these abominations the Church will spare no effort to do all that is necessary to bring to justice whosoever has committed such crimes. The Church will never seek to hush up or not take seriously any case,” the Pope said in his December 21, 2018 annual Christmas speech to the Roman Curia.

The Pope’s own handling of sexual abuse cases came into focus especially in Chile, where he initially defended bishops accused of sex abuse coverup. He later asked for all the country’s bishops to offer their resignations.

In the United States, clergy sex abuse of minors in the Church peaked in the early 1970s, according to reports from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. Though the scandal led to some news reports and internal church investigations in later decades, it did not become a nationwide focus until news reports in 2002 exposed scandal and coverup in Boston and across the country.

The sex abuse scandal again was inflamed in 2018 with the announcements of credible allegations of sex abuse of a minor against the deeply influential then-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, followed by accusations that he sexually abused young adult seminarians.

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Manila, Philippines, Jan 16, 2019 / 12:38 am (CNA).- A government spokesman said Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is open to dialogue with the country’s bishops, after the president recently suggested that citizens of the country kill the Church leaders.  

Tensions have increased between Duterte and the bishops as Church leaders have continued to condemn the president’s brutal war on drugs. Since Duterte’s rise to power in 2016, thousands of people have reportedly died in extrajudicial killings.

In a speech on Dec. 5, Duterte said people should “kill and steal” from Catholic bishops, stating “this stupid bunch serve no purpose – all they do is criticize,” according to UCA News.

Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon and Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga condemned the statement, describing the comments as dangerous and inappropriate remarks that cannot be dismissed as an attempt at humor.

“Again, his mouth has uttered absolutely silly things! And his ‘fans’ consider his murderous words as a mere joke! Is it a joke to advise people to kill?” said Bastes, according to Philstar.

“It is no longer funny and does not deserve laughs or applause from audiences but condemnation. The advice just promotes criminality, encourages lawlessness. What kind of authority that calls for killing?” said Santos.  

Salvador Panelo, Duterte’s lawyer and spokesman, responded to the bishops on Jan. 13. He said the president was open to conversation with the Catholic leaders, according to UCA News.

“[Duterte] is up for talks, if that’s what [the bishops] are asking for,” said Panelo. “Anything that is beneficial to the nation, the president is easy to talk to.”

Vicente Sotto III, president of the Philippine Senate, has offered to mediate a discussion between Duterte and the Church leaders, noting that the tension between the parties has citizens in the largely Catholic country worried.

Duterte has a history of criticizing the Catholic Church. He has called the bishops “idiots” and “sons of wh-res” and told the people that they should stay at home and pray rather than attending church services.

According to the president’s spokesman, the context for Duterte’s insults is the sexual abuse he underwent in Catholic school. Duterte has said he was molested by Fr. Mark Falvey, SJ, who has been accused posthumously of serially sexually abusing children. In May 2007, the California province of the Society of Jesus reached a $16 million settlement with at least some of his victims.

Duterte has been accused of “social cleansing” for his bloody war on drugs in the country. The country’s bishops offered to provide sanctuary for any whistleblowers in the Philippine police department who spoke out against various human rights abuses. In response, Duterte said the Church was “full of sh-t.”

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