[Pope Watch] A campaign against Cardinal Tagle?

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MANILA, Philippines – Days before the conclave, Manila mounted a subtle pushback for one of its own.

On Saturday afternoon, May 3, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) released a statement plainly titled, “Reaffirming Our Commitment to Safeguarding and Accountability.” It was about addressing cases of sexual abuse.

The CBCP did not state why it released this statement, since there is no recently publicized case of clergy sex abuse in the Philippines. A plausible reason, however, is connected to the conclave that is set to begin on Wednesday, May 7.

The CBCP statement came at a time when Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, one of the three Filipino cardinals in the conclave, was the subject of negative reports ahead of the papal election.

The National Catholic Reporter (NCR) said Tagle “has been the subject of a digital smear campaign developed in conservative social media circles.”

It is, according to Vatican watchers, an indication that Tagle is seriously being considered to replace Francis.

One of the accusations hurled against the cardinal is his alleged inaction on sexual abuse cases in the Philippines. The clergy sex abuse watchdog BishopAcccountability.org warned that Tagle and another papabile, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, would fail in curbing abuses by priests if they were elected to succeed Francis.

“If Cardinal Tagle cannot even get his brother bishops from his home country to publish guidelines, what on earth can we expect for him to achieve as pope of a global church?” said Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of BishopAccountability.org, in a press conference on Friday, May 2.

Without directly referring to BishopAccountability.org, the CBCP on Saturday released a statement on sexual abuse, signed by its secretary general Monsignor Bernardo Pantin, a canon lawyer.

In its statement, the CBCP said it “expresses profound sorrow and solidarity with all victims and survivors of sexual abuse, especially those harmed by members of the clergy.”

It then clarified that it “initiated the drafting of the Pastoral Guidelines on Sexual Abuses and Misconduct by the Clergy in the early 2000s.” These guidelines had been circulated in 2003 and “emphasized pastoral care for victims, the healing of communities, assessment of the accused, and appropriate sanctions for offenders.”

“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,” said the CBCP.

It also clarified the jurisdiction of Tagle, who left his post as Manila archbishop in December 2019 after Francis appointed him to a Vatican post. 

“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.

When Tagle spoke out on abuse

Tagle has spoken up on sexual abuse by priests even at a Vatican summit in February 2019, in the presence of Francis. 

The cardinal said bishops inflict wounds on sex abuse victims by covering up for erring priests.

“Our lack of response to the suffering of victims, even to the point of rejecting them and covering up the scandal to protect perpetrators and the institution, has injured our people, leaving a deep wound in our relationship with those we are sent to serve,” said Tagle.

Tearing up at one point in his speech, the cardinal added, “The wounds of the Risen Christ carry the memory of innocent suffering, but they also carry the memory of our weakness and sinfulness.”

Tagle, however, has also been criticized because a Caritas director in Central African Republic — a Belgian Salesian priest — was named to his post despite allegations of child sexual abuse in 2012. 

Tagle, former Caritas president, was said to be aware of the director’s record. NCR reported in 2023 that Caritas and Tagle did not respond to its request for further comment.

Other forms of criticism against Tagle involve matters other than his alleged inaction on sexual abuse. 

One form of black propaganda involves videos of him singing and dancing, which karaoke-loving Filipinos find endearing but which many in the West, particularly those in traditionalist circles, view as unbecoming of a Catholic priest.

One of the most viral — and most maligned — Tagle videos was footage of him singing John Lennon’s “Imagine.” This Tagle video now has 1.2 million views on X. 

The video was posted by LifeSiteNews, a traditionalist Catholic website that often condemned Francis over LGBTQ+ issues. 

LifeSiteNews suggested that Tagle’s singing of “Imagine” is “a betrayal of Catholic teaching.”

“A stunning moment as Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle performs ‘Imagine’ — the atheist anthem rejecting religion, heaven, and Christ’s Kingship,” LifeSiteNews wrote on April 24.

It pointed out how the song’s lyrics “directly contradict Catholic doctrine” by stating, “No hell below us…no religion too.” 

NCR noted that the allegation is false.

“Although the song’s lyrics do feature themes that contradict Catholic teaching, the cardinal sang a modified version of the song that was shortened to not include those lines. In truth, the LifeSite News post has been fact-checked, with a Community Note that says the same,” the Catholic news outlet clarified.

NCR said that since conservatives called Francis an antipope and a heretic during his 12-year papacy, “it was predictable that the reactionary fusillade has ramped up, aimed at potential successors to Francis’ legacy.”

While Tagle’s “Asian Francis” tag is an asset, it is also a liability. – Rappler.com