A Philippine bishop has decided there is no need to probe allegations of sex abuse against a priest in his diocese.

“I don’t plan to launch an investigation based on hazy and unverified reports from the internet,” said Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista of Boac.

A Kansas newspaper report claims that Father Orestes Huerta and two other priests molested a minor while he was serving in Dodge City diocese, Kansas, USA, around 20 years ago.

The newspaper claimed that Bishop Evangelista has not replied to an email request for information but the bishop denied this.

“I have received nothing from Kansas,” he said. “No communication about this addressed to me or the chancellor has reached us. I only learned about the charges from an internet news alert.”

He went on to defend Father Huerta, who is now in his 60s and lives in the pastoral center which has quarters for the bishop and other priests.

“I have not received any complaint in this diocese and I don’t believe I have to take any special measures because I find no basis to feel that people are unsafe around the priest,” he said.

When asked why Father Huerta is not involved in active ministry, the bishop said: “When I arrived in Boac in 2005, he was not assigned to any post so I left things as they were. The diocese has many younger priests to do pastoral work. There are 33 priests for 14 parishes, 11 of them ordained in the last five years.”

Related reports
Sex-charge American ordained in Philippines
Priest seeks probe into confrere’s death
Abuse crisis ‘a wake-up call’ for formators

PM10605.1612