‘forgive Them Father for They Have Sinned’

Manila Times
September 4, 2017

http://www.manilatimes.net/forgive-father-sinned/348620/

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a case against Monsignor Arnel Lagajeros of the Diocese of Antipolo for molesting a minor.

READ: Monsignor faces criminal charges at justice dept for molesting minor

Lagajeros, 55, was caught in an entrapment operation while inside his gray Ford explorer at the parking area of Blue Wave Mall along Sumulong Hi-way in Barangay Sto. Nino, Marikina City, where he and the minor were supposed to meet.

Lagajeros was not the first local prelate in the Catholic Church accused of sexual harassment or misconduct.

Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, then president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said about 200 priests have been known to have committed sexual abuse or sexual misconduct.

The Manila Times lists some of them:

* Bishops Teodoro Bacani and Crisostomo Yalung.

In 2003, Yalung was accused of having a relationship with Christine Rances, a woman 24 years his junior.

Also in 2003, Bacani was accused by his 33-year-old secretary of hugging her from behind and touching her private parts.

Bacani denied the accusations, but later apologized to the victim for “inappropriate expression of affection”. On August 20, 2003, the Vatican cleared Bacani of the harassment charges.