ABUSE, ELITISM AND ACCOUNTABILITY
CHALLENGES TO THE PHILIPPINE CHURCH
Keywords:
Church Accountability, Clergy Sexual Abuse, Clericalism, Ecclesial Elitism, Priesthood, Laity, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)Abstract
There is a need to broaden the analysis of abuse within the Catholic Church to include any excessive use or application of power, authority, and influence that would detriment, damage and demoralize its members. In this light, the paper offers to go deeper in the understanding of abuse as rooted in ecclesiastical elitism which is a more serious problem than clericalism. Elitism within the Church is concrete in the various forms of privilege and distinctions, rooted in traditionally held theologies, culturally reinforced beliefs, and repeated practices of fame and honour. Because of these, abuse is perpetuated, thus making possible the lack of transparency in terms of financial management and disregard for the rights of people working within the various ministries of the Church. Realistically, power and authority are part of any human system. Precisely why there is a need for the Church to balance its hierarchical authority, power, and influence with accountability in the various structures and aspects of its governance and pastoral activities. The experience of the Philippine Church is the case and context of this study.
References
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, “We Pray for the Church,” http://cbcponline.net/we-pray-for-the-church/
Jose S. Arcilla, SJ, An Introduction to Philippine History, Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila Press, 2000.
John N. Schumacher, SJ, “Rizal in the Context of Nineteenth Century Philippines,” in The Making of a Nation: Essays on Nineteenth-Century Filipino Nationalism, Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press, 1991.
Len Sperry, Sex, Priestly Ministry, and the Church, Quezon City: Claretians, 2004.
Aloysius L. Cartagenas, “The Terror of the Sexual Abuse by the Roman Catholic Clergy and the Philippine Context,” Asian Horizons 5, 2 (2011).
Norbert Rigali, “Moral Theology and Church Responses to Sexual Abuse,” Horizons 34, 2 (2007) 183-204.
Nuala O’Loan, “Transparency, Accountability and the Exercise of Power in the Church of the Future,” Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review 99, 395 (2010) 265-275.
Aries Rufo, Altar of Secrets: Sex, Politics, and Money in the Philippine Church, Pasig: Journalism for Nation Building Foundation, 2013.
Likhaan, Child Justice League, and Catholics for a Free Choice, “The Holy See and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in the Republic of the Philippines: Report on How the Holy See’s Laws Impact the Philippines’ Compliance with the Convention” (December 2004), https://www.catholicsforchoice.org/wp-content/ uploads/2014/01/2005Philippines.pdf
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, “Hope in the Midst of Crisis,” http://cbcponline.net/hope-in-the-midst-of-crisis/
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, “Pastoral Guidelines on Sexual Abuse and Misconduct by the Clergy,” http://bishop-accountability.org/ Philippines/news/2003_PASTORAL_GUIDELINES_ON_SEXUAL_ABUSES_AND_MISCONDUCT_BY_THE_CLERGY.pdf
Jodi Death, “Bad Apples, Bad Barrel: Exploring Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse by Catholic Clergy in Australia,” International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy 4, 2 (2015).
Thomas Plante and Courtney Daniels, “The Sexual Abuse Crisis in the Roman Catholic Church: What Psychologists and Counselors should Know,” Pastoral Psychology 52 (2004) 381-393.
Gaetano Mosca, The Ruling Class, New York: McGraw-Hill, 1939.
Yves Congar, OP, Power and Poverty in the Church, Baltimore: Helicon, 1964.
Catechism of the Catholic Church.
J.D. Caro, “Survey Shows Church, Government Remain Highly Trusted; Trust in Media Sharply Declines,” https://verafiles.org/articles/survey-shows-church-government-remain-highly-trusted-trust-m
Francis, Vos Estis Lux Mundi (May 2019), http://www.vatican.va/content/ francesco/en/motu_proprio/documents/papa-francesco-motu-proprio-20190507_vos-estis-lux-mundi.html
Tom Gjelten, “Has Catholic Canon Law Aggravated the Clergy Abuse Crisis?,” https://www.npr.org/2018/09/04/644667657/has-catholic-canon-law-aggravated-the-clergy-abuse-crisis.
Staffan Lindberg, “Accountability: The Core Concept and its Subtypes,” International Review of Administrative Sciences 79, 2 (2013).
Nicholas King, SJ, “Theology and Power: A Biblical Perspective,” in Stephen Bullivant and others, ed., Theology and Power: International Perspectives, New Jersey: Paulist, 2016, 1-16.
Thomas Aquinas, “De Regno,” in Dino Bigongiari, The Political Ideas of St. Thomas Aquinas, New York: The Free Press, 1953.
Dino Bigongiari, “Introduction,” The Political Ideas of St. Thomas Aquinas, New York: The Free Press, 1953.
John Paul II, Gift and Mystery: On the Fiftieth Anniversary of My Priestly Ordination, New York: Doubleday, 1996.
Chilton Williamson Jr., “The Church is not a Democracy,” Crisis Magazine: A Voice for the Faithful Catholic Laity, https://www.crisismagazine.com/2019/the-church-is-not-a-democracy.
Richard McBrien, The Church, New York: HarperOne, 2008.
A. Rufo’s account of the late Bishop Olivers of Malolos. See A. Rufo, Altar of Secrets.
Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, “Clergy Sexual Misconduct: Some Reflections from Asia,” 3. Delivered during the Meeting: Protection of Minors in the Church, Vatican City, http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/child-and-youth-protection/resources/upload/Reflections-from-Asia-Tagle.pdf
Rhoderick John S. Abellanosa, “Amoris Laetitia in a Clericalist Culture: a Case of the Philippine Church,” Asian Horizons 11, 1 (2017) 183-196.
Jasmin Uy, “Cardinal Issues Gag Order to Church-officials” (2006) https://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2006/08/11/352151/cardinal-issues-gag-order-church-officials
