Bishop Villarojo calls for lasting abuse prevention culture in Philippine Church

Bishop Dennis Villarojo of Malolos has called on the Catholic Church in the Philippines to transform abuse prevention into a permanent institutional culture. Speaking at the closing Mass of a four-day national safeguarding meeting in Manila, Villarojo emphasized that the mission of safeguarding officers must evolve from merely exposing abuse to establishing long-term systems of transparency and accountability.

The meeting, titled the ‘National Guidelines Framework Write-Shop,’ brought together more than 200 Church representatives from October 13 to 16. The objective was to develop a common safeguarding framework to be used by dioceses and Church institutions across the country. This framework aims to create consistent, transparent, and survivor-centered standards that align with the Holy See’s Universal Guidelines Framework.

Villarojo, who serves as the chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ Episcopal Office for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons, stated that while uncovering hidden issues is necessary, the ultimate goal is to ensure no part of the Church remains shielded from scrutiny, particularly where children and vulnerable adults are involved.