Filipino bishops apologise for abuse

THE Philippines' largest association of Roman Catholic bishops apologised yesterday for what it said were grave cases of sexual misconduct by priests.

The 120-strong Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said it has drafted a protocol to address the various types of sexual abuse and misconduct committed by priests in one of Asia's two predominantly Roman Catholic nations. The protocol, which would address such issues as criminal paedophilia, romantic affairs by priests and homosexuality, could be made final by next July, said CBCP president Archbishop Orlando Quevedo.

He estimated that about 200 of the nation's 7,000 priests may be guilty of sexual misconduct and abuses over the past 20 years. He declined to detail cases and actions taken by the Church. “To the various crises in society, we must now, with great sorrow and shame, add problems in the Church,” said a statement by the bishops that was read at a news conference. “We confess that cases of grave sexual misconduct by clerics (and other members of) religious (orders) in the Philippines have rocked the bark (boat) of Peter. Sexual misconduct on the part of shepherds of the flock betrays the holy priesthood that Christ has shared.”