The Major Orders and the Minors: Exploring the Issue of Child Sexual Abuse Perpetrated by the Roman Catholic Clergy in the Philippines
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This study examines the persistent issue of child sexual abuse perpetrated by Roman Catholic clergy in the Philippines, situating it within broader institutional, cultural, and theological contexts. Building on existing discussions, the paper explores the nature, extent, root causes, and consequences of the crisis, while critically assessing the responses developed by the Church. Using a qualitative thematic analysis of secondary sources, the research identifies key dimensions of the problem, including abuse of power, institutional concealment, lack of accountability, and the problematic idealization of suffering. The findings suggest that these elements are deeply interconnected and largely grounded in clericalism, understood as a structural distortion of authority within the Church. The study further highlights the extensive impact of clergy-perpetrated abuse on victims as well as its damaging effects on the credibility of the clergy and the Church. Despite the existence of formal institutional responses, such as Vatican directives and guidelines issued by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, their effectiveness remains constrained by inconsistent implementation. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for systemic reform, enhanced transparency, and stronger safeguarding mechanisms to address the crisis more effectively and restore trust within the Church.
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