Child Abuse Allegations Must Be Judged by Law, Not Religion

Child Abuse Allegations Must Be Judged by Law, Not Religion

The recent allegations against a Buddhist priest in Anuradhapura have drawn strong criticism, yet the charges remain unproven in court. There appears to be some Buddhist laymen trying to create a discord between Buddhist monks and devotees as if this happened only in the Buddhist clergy.

Child abuse is a crime against humanity, not tied to any one religion. Over the last 50 years, court records show convicted cases in every faith. Punishment has followed where guilt was proven.

According to the available information on the internet following details have been unearthed. 

Examples: In 2018, Australia’s Cardinal George Pell was convicted for abusing two 13-year-old choirboys. The same year, Archbishop Philip Wilson was jailed 12 months for concealing a priest’s abuse.

 In 2019, Argentine priests Horacio Corbacho and Nicola Corradi received 45 and 42-year sentences for abusing 20 deaf children. 

Belgium’s Fr. André Louis got 30 years in 2000 for raping 26 children. Ireland’s Fr. Brendan Smyth admitted abusing 50-100 children and was jailed in 1994.

The UK’s IICSA inquiry found 3,000+ abuse instances reported to the Catholic Church in England/Wales between 1970-2015, leading to 133 convictions.

If a crime occurred, the law must punish the individual — whether monk, priest, minister or layperson. Allegations alone should not defame an entire religion. “Innocent until proven guilty” stance must apply to all.

It is also unethical to discuss an issue pending in legal action.

Without malice towards none. 

Sumith de Silva 

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