Manila bishops defend papal frontrunner

The Philippines’ governing body of Catholic bishops has issued a rare statement on clerical sexual abuse, defending Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle on the issue days before the opening of a conclave to elect a new pope.

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Watchdog group BishopAccountability.org warned last Friday that Tagle and Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin could not be relied on to protect children, with its co-director accusing the Church in the Philippines of remaining in the “dark ages”.

Both men are considered frontrunners to replace Pope Francis.

Cardinals from around the world are currently in the Vatican, ahead of a conclave on Wednesday of the eligible ones among them to elect a new pontiff.