Philippine bishops defend Cardinal Tagle’s record ahead of conclave

Joseph San Mateo/Crux• May 5, 2025

As the conclave to elect a new pope approaches, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is defending the record of Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, former Archbishop of Manila, in addressing sexual abuse by clergy in the Southeast Asian country.

In a statement on Saturday, the CBCP said Tagle has advocated for a Church that listens and “acts decisively” to help victims of abuse.

The bishops’ conference did not explain the context of the 560-word statement, but the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that it appeared to be “a response to recent foreign media reports which accused Tagle of not being vocal enough about such cases in the country.”

BishopAccountability.org, a watchdog group that monitors cases of clergy sexual abuse, has questioned Tagle’s ability to confront abusive priests if he were elected pope.

Tagle, 67, is considered papabile in the conclave to elect the 267th leader of the Catholic Church. The conclave of 133 cardinal electors, including Tagle and two others from the Philippines, begins on Wednesday.

“If Cardinal Tagle cannot even get his brother bishops from his home country to publish guidelines, what on earth can we expect him to achieve as pope of a global Church?” said BishopAccountability.org co-director Anne Barrett Doyle at a press conference on Friday.

The CBCP, however, said its Pastoral Guidelines on Sexual Abuses and Misconduct by the Clergy had already been circulated as early as September 2003.

These guidelines “were developed to address allegations and actual cases of sexual abuse and misconduct by clergy in the Philippines,” according to the CBCP’s statement, titled Reaffirming Our Commitment to Safeguarding and Accountability.

“They emphasised pastoral care for victims, the healing of communities, assessment of the accused, and appropriate sanctions for offenders,” said the CBCP in the statement signed by its secretary general, Mgr Bernardo Pantin, a canon lawyer trained at the Angelicum in Rome.

The CBCP cited the role of Tagle, who served as Bishop of Imus, a populous diocese south of Metro Manila, from 2001 to 2011, and as Archbishop of Manila from 2011 to 2019.

“In particular, Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, during his tenure as Bishop of Imus and later as Archbishop of Manila, actively participated in the development and implementation of these guidelines. He has consistently advocated for a humble and responsive Church that listens to the cries of the wounded and acts decisively to protect the vulnerable,” the statement said.

The bishops’ conference added that since his move to Rome as pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation (formerly prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples), Tagle is no longer involved in disciplining Filipino priests.

Tagle has been based in Rome since 2020.

“Since his appointment to a full-time position in the Roman Curia, Cardinal Tagle no longer holds direct authority over any diocese in the Philippines. Consequently, he is not involved in the governance or disciplinary matters of Philippine dioceses. The responsibility for addressing allegations of misconduct by clergy rests with the respective diocesan bishops or religious superiors,” the CBCP said.

The CBCP also emphasised its general commitment to curbing clergy sexual abuse, noting that it had established an Office for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons as directed by the Holy See. Each Filipino diocese is mandated to set up a similar office, “ensuring that every Church institution becomes a safe space for all.”

“The CBCP remains steadfast in its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the protection of all members of the Church, especially the most vulnerable. We continue to seek guidance from the Holy See and collaborate with civil authorities to ensure that justice is served and that the Church becomes a beacon of hope and safety for all,” the statement said.

Tagle, a charismatic prelate known for his simplicity and love for the poor, is often called the “Asian Francis” and is widely seen as a leading contender in the conclave.

He has faced criticism, however, over his administrative abilities, particularly during his tenure as president of Caritas Internationalis from 2015 until 2022.

Critics point to his failure to prevent the mismanagement of Caritas under its former secretary general, Aloysius John.

He has also been questioned over the appointment of Fr Luk Delft, a Salesian priest convicted of child sexual abuse in 2012, who was later named Caritas director in the Central African Republic. Tagle was reportedly aware of Delft’s criminal conviction as early as 2017.

Tagle has also been attacked online by conservative Catholics over a viral video in which he sings John Lennon’s “Imagine.”

LifeSiteNews, a conservative Catholic website, described the performance as “a betrayal of Catholic teaching,” calling the song “the atheist anthem rejecting religion, heaven, and Christ’s Kingship.”

The website criticised the lyrics, such as “No hell below us… no religion too,” as contrary to Catholic doctrine.

Nevertheless, many Filipinos continue to support Tagle as a potential first Filipino and Southeast Asian pope—an aspiration cherished by a country of 86 million Catholics, the largest Catholic population in Asia.

Social media posts, including TikTok videos, have emerged in recent days calling for a Tagle papacy following the death of Pope Francis.

Fr Jerome Secillano, a spokesman for the CBCP, has already warned Filipinos not to campaign for Tagle, to no avail. Filipino Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, one of the cardinal electors and a college classmate of Tagle, also reminded Filipino Catholics: “There are no candidates in a conclave.”

Photo: Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle prays during the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper at the Manila Cathedral on April 13, 2017.(NOEL CELIS/AFP via Getty Images)