Watchdog Accuses Papal Contenders Parolin and Tagle of Ignoring Clerical Sex Abuse

As the Catholic Church prepares for the conclave on May 7 to elect a new pope, the U.S.-based advocacy group BishopAccountability.org has raised concerns about the two leading candidates—Cardinals Pietro Parolin and Luis Antonio Tagle—accusing them of inadequate responses to clerical sexual abuse.i

Details:

• Cardinal Pietro Parolin:
  Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of BishopAccountability.org, criticized Parolin for allegedly withholding documents related to abuse cases from civil authorities during his tenure as Vatican Secretary of State. She cited instances in countries like Australia, Chile, and the UK, where the Vatican reportedly provided minimal cooperation in investigations. 

• Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle:
  Doyle described the Philippine Church as being in the "dark ages" regarding clerical abuse, noting the absence of published guidelines on handling such cases during Tagle's leadership as Archbishop of Manila. She questioned his effectiveness in addressing abuse issues, especially given the lack of proactive measures in his home country. 

• Survivor Testimony:
  Filipino lawyer Michal Gatchalian shared his experience of abuse by a priest at age 17, stating that the Church's response was inadequate. He emphasized the lack of visible efforts to address such issues during Tagle's tenure. 

• Additional Concerns:
  Tagle's leadership of Caritas Internationalis from 2015 to 2022 ended with his removal following a Vatican audit citing management deficiencies. Questions have been raised about his awareness of the hiring of a convicted child sex offender by Caritas in the Central African Republic.