Catholic church: Sacred but not beyond scrutiny

Aries Rufo, a veteran journalist, recently launched “Altar of Secrets,” a book on the abuses of bishops and priests. The first of its kind in the Philippines, the book exposes sexual misconduct, political interference, and financial mismanagement by bishops and priests. These include investigative stories on a high-ranking prelate who fathered a child and later resigned, and on multimillion-peso donations to Radyo Veritas that remain unaccounted for. Rufo demands accountability from the Catholic clergy. “Not only are they accountable to the people, but also to a higher source from where they draw their moral responsibility.” Veteran journalist Miriam Grace Go, said the book can actually strengthen the Catholic Church. It’s tough love, she said. “Aries is somebody who loves his Church. [But] how else can you fix it and make it stronger and more effective in serving and ministering to the flock, but by cleansing it?”


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