BY FR. SHAY CULLEN
(Continued from Oct. 21, 2022)
A RESEARCH project by the Center for Women’s Resources discovered that a woman or child is sexually abused every five minutes in the Philippines as if this is a national pastime and the abuse is seldom reported. When the crime is reported, it is not always noted in the police blotter or acted upon as police manipulate the statistics to show a low crime rate and success by doing nothing.
Human trafficking, child sexual abuse and online sexual abuse and exploitation of children is spreading at an unprecedented rate across the Philippines. It is the hub of child abuse online as the social media platforms Facebook, Tik-tok Instagram and others, through the Internet Service Providers (ISPs), sexualize social media and allow the promotion of child sexual abuse. The ISPs deny responsibility.
It is promoted and spread through the Internet by the Philippine Internet Service Providers (ISPs) backed by international finance. They are beyond government control and law enforcement can hardly monitor the trafficking of child abuse material. Images of child rape can show up on cell phones and devices day and night. One example of many is three 10-year old boys have child abuse images on a mobile phone and they go rape a six-year old girl.
There is no blocking software deployed by the ISPs. A new law, the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children Law (Anti-OSAEC Law) will help control their abusive activities. Human trafficking and the online sexual abuse of even younger children is the worst evil in the Philippines and it is the shame and disgrace to the Filipino people who do too little to stop it and ignore child sexual abuse.
Christians leaders, bishops, priests and laypeople should be outraged at the extent of human trafficking and child abuse in families and online and be motivated by faith to take every opportunity to help the victims by good deeds and action for justice and denounce the evil on the Internet that is pervading society. The worthwhile prayer is that which motivates people to act for justice. Where are the organized, militant Catholic internet “trolls” for human rights and child protection? None that I know of. We need the revival of Catholic social action groups in every parish, led by dedicated internet savvy students and youth fighting every day for social justice.
While on the streets outside, the parishioners should be having their weekly march for child rights, justice for the exploited and oppressed, before celebrating the Eucharist. Because that is what the Mass is, among other things, a celebration of Faith, that good will overcome evil. It is a meal of solidarity and friendship with Jesus of Nazareth and for the community to be bound together in commitment to living out the Gospel values of Jesus. They commit to fighting together, denouncing evil, and doing the good and the true.
That is our baptismal vow. Christian faith is acting on the belief that doing good and action for truth and justice will overcome evil in society. Without that action, faith is dead as Saint James has said. Without that commitment to act on our baptismal vows to reject evil and do good, there is little purpose to church-going besides attending rituals and rites. There is no magic in church.
The few brave church leaders that speak out take risks for the gospel and have true faith in protecting the rights of children and victims of human rights violations. They are true Christians of inspiration but we need many more of them. (preda.org)/PN
