(INDONESIA)
Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA News) [Hong Kong]
November 28, 2025
University authorities, including the rector, initially denied there was a complaint of sexual assault, media reports say
A Catholic university in Flores, Indonesia, has announced the dismissal of a priest after an internal investigation found he was involved in the sexual assault of a female student.
The priest, whose name has not been revealed, was a lecturer at the Catholic University of Indonesia, Saint Paulus Ruteng, and was dismissed a fortnight ago, said the university rector Father Agustinus Manfred Habur on Nov. 27.
The announcement came a day after local media outlets carried reports of the alleged crime.
Habur said the Saint Paul Foundation’s board of directors dismissed the priest on Nov. 12.
Earlier, the priest was relieved of his duties as a lecturer on Nov. 6, more than six months after the victim “contacted the campus psychology service for consultation regarding the alleged sexual assault,” he added.
This, Habur said, was a preventive measure to avoid further harm or discomfort to students, pending a definitive decision on the priest’s conduct.
The victim was identified by the pseudonym Christina in a report by Floresa, an independent media outlet.
She reported the assault to the campus psychologist in April, alleging the priest had harassed her via chat on a messaging app and physically assaulted her on campus, it said.
Media reports said university authorities, including Habur, initially denied there was a complaint of sexual violence against a female student on campus. No complaint was filed with the police.
When asked, Habur told UCA News he cannot report the case to the police, as the victim was required to file a complaint.
The case was dealt with “in accordance with the campus code of ethics,” the rector claimed while refusing to disclose further details, arguing that “information with the campus counseling service is confidential.”
The campus psychologist officially submitted a confidential report to the management in accordance with internal regulations for special cases and victim protection. The victim was being provided counseling and was informed of the action taken against the priest by the campus psychologist, Habur added.
UCA News spoke to the victim, who said she had no information about the lecturer’s dismissal and was only told that he had been sanctioned with restrictions on his duties, such as not being allowed to supervise female students’ theses and to carry out certain campus activities as before.
Azas Tigor Nainggolan, a Catholic lawyer at the human rights desk of the Indonesian Bishops’ Commission for Justice, Peace, and Pastoral Care for Migrant-Itinerant People, said the university should have supported the victim, even assisting her in reporting the alleged incidents to the police.
“The Vatican has emphasized its commitment to supporting victims, but unfortunately, this has not been fully implemented by all institutions within the Catholic Church,” he said.
Nainggolan said this case serves as an important lesson for all Catholic institutions.
“Don’t wait for the case to go viral before taking action,” he said.
This is the first reported instance of sexual assault in a Catholic higher education institution on Flores Island.