CBCP to tackle ‘children protection office’ in plenary summit

“It’s a new office at the CBCP so they are going to elect the chairman. It aims to help or assist the dioceses on how to face this particular issue,” said Fr. Marvin Mejia, CBCP secretary-general, in an interview Thursday. (File Photo By User:Patrickroque01 – Taken using my own camera with model DSC-HX5V, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA — Issues regarding a new office addressing allegations of child sexual abuse committed by members of the clergy are included in the agenda of the plenary assembly of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), from Saturday to Monday.

“It’s a new office at the CBCP so they are going to elect the chairman. It aims to help or assist the dioceses on how to face this particular issue,” said Fr. Marvin Mejia, CBCP secretary-general, in an interview Thursday.

Mejia said the Office for the Protection of Children will help address this matter which has long plagued the Catholic church.

“It aims to help or assist the dioceses on how to face this particular issue. It is still the individual local churches (who will act) if there are accusations. This (will just provide) support because in the end, it’s the individual bishop’s (jurisdiction),” he said.

Mejia added that the CBCP, applying the Canon Law, and other professionals will also help in resolving these concerns, if necessary.

In December last year, Pope Francis lifted the Vatican’s secrecy rule for cases of sexual abuse.

This means that the Catholic church is now allowed to share with authorities’ documents and information on these cases and victims can now be updated on the status of their cases.

The rule has long been invoked by some Catholic churches in other countries to cover up these cases and refuse to cooperate with authorities’ investigation.

Another issue to be discussed in the assembly is the preparation for the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the country next year.

During the plenary assembly, the new officers of the CBCP Permanent Council will also take their oath of office headed by Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles and Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, who are serving their second term as president and vice president, respectively, after they were elected in July 2019.

The event will be held at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Paco, Manila where active and retired bishops are expected to attend.

Held twice a year, the plenary assembly is considered as the highest decision-making body of the CBCP.