ONE IN every four youth- boys and girls- are victims of sexual abuse by biological fathers, live-fathers, grandfathers, relatives, clergy and local pedophiles. Some parents and relatives sexually abuse their young children online to earn money. Every five minutes, a woman or child is raped, according to the research done by Center for Women’s Resources. The degradation and abuse is so pervasive in society that seven- to ten-year old boys are influenced and have been caught having raped five- and six-year old girls. They have been influenced by the child sexual abuse material allowed on the servers of the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and viewed on cellphones and the internet.
What kind of society has the Philippines become? Certainly, not a more virtuous, innocent and morally strong society. A serious negative and corrupt influence has eroded the higher moral values that once infused the culture formed by Gospel values of Christianity that was once a faith that was socially active.That has radically changed. It is now more a faith without action. One that is dead in many ways.
The institutional church seems to have abandoned its duty to protect and stand for human rights and children’s and family rights and dignity. Many bishops and conservative priests are silent about clerical child sexual abuse, abuse in the family and society, the spread of sex hotels and trafficking of children and youth. They ignore the plight of young people jailed in sub-human conditions, tortured and abused behind bars.
Those true Christians, priests, bishops and lay people that are living out the social message of Jesus of Nazareth with the true spirt of the gospel are being harassed, threatened, jailed and killed.
The government has for the past many years descended into a quagmire of corruption and moral degradation. Killing suspects with impunity and violating human rights. Too many local governments have supported the sex industry by issuing licenses and permits to bars and clubs and sex hotels, allowing the human trafficking and child abuse to continue and spread.
The children and youth need a vigorous defense from the abuse they suffer. It is all too easy to blame the youth for leaving their homes and living on the streets and stealing to survive. When they have been abused, kicked and beaten and rejected by their unloving parents, where else can they go and survive when all they have is a t-shirt and shorts? They need to be welcomed, understood, sheltered, affirmed and given a chance to find a life when they have no loving, caring family. That is the one thing that we all desire above all else. It is our duty to give them that chance.
We are called to speak out to protect the children from abuse and take a stand and live out the moral values of the gospel, the sacredness of life and the well-being and human rights and dignity of the people and speak and rally against moral evil in society. (preda.org)/PN
