Evil "Men of God"

A Pastor assigned in a Pentecostal church in Benguet was arrested a couple of months ago for rape, sexual assault, and acts of lasciviousness. The victim was a 19-year-old church worker and worse, his counselee. The sexual exploits were committed between September 2012 to August 2013 and within the pastoral house even when church activities are going on. These horrible and revolting actions of a “servant of God” prompted a petition by pastors and church workers in the Pentecostal Church of Baguio-Benguet to condemn the said acts.

News about “Men of God” not practicing what they preach is not new. Just recently also, a pastor was nabbed in Pico, La Trinidad town on April 2014 after selling “shabu,” to an agent. Years ago a church leader was involved with a Pyramiding Scam which siphoned church funds to unknown pockets. Or let us not forget the news about some priests in some remote places in the Cordillera who have sexual relations with their church members or parishioners. Or let us recall the ‘Vatican Scandal’ which involved Bishops who molested/raped young children in their care.

Various cases in the Philippines (and even in the whole world) showed many of these kinds of people; among the more popular is the case of People vs. Deopita (2010).

More than a decade ago, Mr. Deopita not only robbed but also raped a poor young woman. When he was arrested and was brought to trial, he alleged that he is “a person of good moral character” holding as he does the position of “Ministerial Servant” in the congregation of Jehovah’s witnesses, and that he is a godly man, righteous person, and a good Christian who preaches the word of God.

Unconvinced because of the overwhelming evidence pointing to Deopita, the court declared that his “sterling qualities” he mentioned is no guarantee against any sexual perversion and plunderous proclivity. In closing, the court went on to further explain that:

“Indeed, religiosity is not always an emblem of good conduct, and it is not the unreligious alone who succumbs to the impulse to rob and rape…”

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*The Following are other abuses by these "Men of God" in the Philippines, sadly thousands and thousands more are recorded around the world :

 - In 2002 the Catholic Church apologized for sexual abuses, including adultery, homosexuality and child abuse by two hundred priests over the previous 20 years.

  - In 2003 at least 34 priests were suspended in a sex abuse scandal involving sexual harassment of women. 20 were from a single diocese.

   - In 2011, a priest accused of sexually abusing a 17-year old female minor is sheltered by his Bishop, despite calls for his surrender to civil authorities.