Addressing Challenges Faced by Archbishop Simon Poh in Kuching, Malaysia
Archbishop Simon Poh of Archdiocese of Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia discusses the challenges and crisis faced, particularly in safeguarding youth against abuse. He emphasizes the need for proactive measures in addressing sex abuse in Asia, highlighting the importance of protecting children. Archbishop Poh's efforts to promote safeguarding and lead by example serve as a message to the wider society. He advocates for a shift towards preventative sex abuse policies in the Asian context, noting the importance of being proactive in addressing such issues.
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CHALLENGES FACED BY BISHOP Archbishop Simon Poh Archdiocese of Kuching Sarawak Malaysia
Challenges & Crisis As a priest, I have worked with the young people for around 30 years. In the last 8 years as a bishop, I have learnt from formation sessions organised for Asian Bishops given by Fr. Hans Zollner and Dr. Gabriel Dy- Liacco and the team from the Philippines: Formation for Malaysian Bishops, priests and lay faithful by Br. Brandon Geary and Barry O Sullivan. Including the new course for Bishops. I had a personal encounter with a child victim who is now an adult -who has been abused as a child in a private kindergarten (that is not connected to our church or Catholics).
In every crisis, there is both DANGER & OPPORTUNITY
So I can always do something... As a newly appointed Archbishop in 2017 in a large Archdiocese of Kuching on the island of Borneo, with little knowledge of safeguarding, limited personnel of 30 priests and no much resources. I only had the desire to do something. As the Bishop-in-charge of the Malaysian Episcopal Youth Commission, I attended the Synod on Youth in Rome in October 2018 and gave an intervention on the need to safeguarding the young people that we are accompanying. All my youth ministers of the 9 dioceses gave me their support . We wanted to do something in Malaysia.
SYNOD ON YOUTH October 2018 Be proactive on sex abuse in Asia, Malaysian bishop tells synod Be proactive on sex abuse in Asia, Malaysian bishop tells synod BY: MATTERS INDIA ON: 27 October 2018. https://mattersindia.com/2018/10/be-proactive-on-sex-abuse-in-asia- malaysian-bishop-tells-synod/ Vatican City, Oct 26, 2018: Catholic leaders in Asia need to be proactive in implementing preventative sex abuse policies, a bishop from Malaysia told the 2018 Synod of Bishops. In the Asian context, these are often not spoken, so I raised the issue, Archbishop Simon Poh of Kuching told Catholic News Agency. We are seeing what has happened in the situation of abuse worldwide, Poh said. Rather than saying that things don t happen here we have to be proactive and say, What can we do? While sex abuse cases have rocked Catholic dioceses across the Western world from Pennsylvania to Chile, there have been few reported clerical sex abuse cases in the Catholic Church in East and Southeast Asia. In an interview this week, Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai, India, told Crux that the treatment of sex abuse at the synod should not just address the matter in the Western or Anglo-sphere context. It s a critical issue for certain countries because of credibility etc., and we have our own issues in India, Cardinal Gracias said. While some have suggested that the abuse crisis is a problem particular to the Church in Western countries Archbishop Poh does not agree. It is a human problem, he said. In Malaysia, where Christians are a demographic and cultural minority, the sexual exploitation of children has been an increasing issue in the wider society. In this context, the Archbishop wants the Catholic minority to set an example. We are actually sending a message across Asia, Poh said. We [bishops] should be the first to promote and safeguard our children. Archbishop Poh was among several Catholic bishops to focus their synod intervention on clerical sex abuse prevention at the synod on young people, the faith, and vocational discernment.
The youth ministers of Malaysia responded .... After Synod, my youth ministers who are in their 20s and 30s, made the commitment to accompany our young people and to create a safe environment. But where do we start .... At that time, in my own Kuching Archdiocese, we have just drafted a safeguarding pledge form for everyone working with minors and vulnerable. This includes priests, religious, Sunday School Teachers, and youth ministers
First baby steps ... At our youth ministers retreat and planning meeting, I proposed that we should be the first to sign the declaration ando pledge form with these clauses (1) I have never been charged or convicted of any sexual misconduct or any crime whatsoever against Children or Vulnerable Persons or any person at all. (2)There is nothing in relation to my conduct, character or personal background of any nature which would adversely affect the position of trust in which I would be placed as a person working in or serving under the Ministry/ Committee/ Organisation or the Diocese named above. (3) I am committed to safeguard all Children and Vulnerable Persons whom I work with or serve at all times and where any sexual abuse or sexual misconduct becomes known to me, I shall raise these concerns appropriately or lodge a report accordingly. (4) I will use my best endeavors to work positively towards the safeguarding of all Children and Vulnerable Persons from harm and recognise that the welfare of the Children and Vulnerable Persons whom I work with or serve must always be given paramount and adequate consideration. (5) I will take reasonable measures to adopt safe practices and create a safe environment so as to minimize the possibility of abuse or harm to any Children or Vulnerable Persons and to prevent any opportunity for abuse or inappropriate behavior.
AWARENESS & COMMITTMENT Our Malaysian National Youth kept the signed copies I send another copy to the youth ministers respective bishops for their record. A few months later, I received queries from other Malaysian bishops on the Safeguarding Declaration and pledge forms. My brother bishops wanted to adopt the Pledge form for their dioceses in Malaysia.
In essence, we are declaring that our Church In essence, we are declaring that our Church is a safe environment for children and minors is a safe environment for children and minors Despite having little resources and the formation and at that time PSO offices have not been set up, we just took baby steps to declare that our Church and Sunday schools are safe environment and that we are committed to safeguarding our children. Signing the pledge is easy to carry out. There is minimum cost. Only the WILL POWER to do something is needed.
British paedophile Richard British paedophile Richard Hackle molested 200 Malaysian children molested 200 Malaysian children By NST Online By NST Online - - June 2, 2016 @ 8:32am June 2, 2016 @ 8:32am KUALA LUMPUR: A British man has admitted to 71 counts of molesting Malaysian children from 2006 to 2014, in what has been described as crimes of the utmost gravity . The BBC reported that Richard Huckle, 30, is believed to have abused up to 200 children during his stint in the country as a freelance photographer and English teacher. The broadcaster reported that Huckle faced 91 charges related to 23 children aged between 6 months and 12 years. He apparently used religion to take advantage of children from poor communities in Kuala Lumpur. Also discovered on his computer was an encrypted manual that Huckle wrote called "Paedophiles And Poverty: Child Lover Guide", as well as notes that he took of his rapes and sex acts. The manual was ready for publication on the dark web , a part of the Internet that requires specific software, configurations and authorisations to access. The pledge form we signed is to deter such paedophile as Church has is given permission to do a background check with the Hackle may have may have
Challenge: Who is accountable in the diocese - Bishop or Religious Superior? In Catholic Bishops Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, we have annual meetings, This allows Bishops and Religious Superiors of the Congregations the forum for dialogue and to discuss issues Bishops and Superiors thus could collaborate and share resources on migrants, ecology, trafficking, and
THE STRAITS TIME, SINGAPORE 5 May 2022. Member of Catholic order in S'pore who committed sex acts on two teenage boys jailed 5 years. The Religious came to know of the abuse in 2009 2013 change of Archbishop in Singapore The new Archbishop only received the news in 2020 After report was made, Offender was charged and jailed in 2022 On the morning of the man s conviction, Archbishop Goh issued a pastoral letter to the Catholic community in which he apologised on behalf of the church. It is with great sadness and regret that we have learnt of the case involving a member of our Church who has committed sexual crimes against young people. Like many of you, I am dismayed, shocked, and ashamed, said the Archbishop. My heartfelt sympathy to those who have suffered on account of this crime. I pray that they will find healing and closure, and we journey with them as a Church through this pain. May justice be rendered accordingly.
Challenge from a Culture of Silence, Shame and saving face Individualism vs. Collectivism One of the core differences between Eastern and Western cultures is the contrast between the emphasis on SELF and the importance of the COMMUNITY. For Western cultures, INDIVIDUAL is emphasised I, focusing on autonomy, personal achievement, and independence. Asian culture places importance on FAMILY, CLAN & COMMUNITY, valuing the needs of the group and community, often over the individual. Thus in order to preserve relationships within family and community, Asian cultures often default to suppression in order to maintain social harmony. The needs and good name of the group take precedence over the individual s needs. And the unspoken culture of silence is thunder current. https://www.verywellmind.com/the-role-of-silence-in-asian-american-families-5295872
CHALLENGE FROM PATRIACHAL SOCIETY AND NEW CONCEPT OF POWER DIFFERENCIATION Power differential means the difference in power between persons in positions of authority and those individuals in subordinate positions that result in a vulnerability on the part of the subordinate. We have Malay saying in Malaysia or Indonesia Harapkan pagar, pagar pagar makan padi Pagar means a fence Padi refers to the rice in the paddy field. We put hope in the fence to guard but the fence ate up the rice A person whom we had trusted to protect has betrayed us.
Challenge to the family and society from perspective Culture of Silence The emphasis is on the family which has its The emphasis is on the family which has its strength but also a shortcoming when an abuse is strength but also a shortcoming when an abuse is discovered. discovered. There is a tendency to say nothing to save face or There is a tendency to say nothing to save face or to protect the good name of the family to protect the good name of the family Abuse, incest, Abuse, incest, etc. etc. are kept out of sight from the are kept out of sight from the neighbours lest the community ostracised the neighbours lest the community ostracised the family who will be humiliated or shame family who will be humiliated or shamed Church to offer a listening ear and to give voice to the children and women
Listen to the Children and Empowerment of Women We organised PCSA sessions for children, students and youths. Personal Child Safety Awareness / Personal Child Safety Awareness / Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse teaches children to know what are safe-touches, to not keep quiet should they be abused, run and tell, and adults are trained listen to such children. We form Ladies Guild groups in parishes in towns and villages for empowerment of women. with minimum financial course, these are easily carried out
Challenges I have learnt that victims can take up to 20, 30 or 40 years before they come forth to talk of such abuse when they were young. I have learnt that even if this had taken place before my time, and as the current archbishop, I will have to take responsibility for the catholic church As such I need to be ready should to take responsibility such abuse incidents surface. Ultimately I will be accountable and be judged on how I will respond before the public and media
The Holy Spirit can use our one small action to bring changes beyond our expectations October 2022 in the Federation of Asian Bishops Conference, I brought up the need to continue promotion the awareness of safeguarding in the Asian continent. February 2023 on Asian continental level of the synod With support of the Filipino Catholic Safeguarding Office, my intervention on safeguarding and protection of minors, youth and vulnerable was noted by the Asian Bishops and included in both reports. The Asian Church has began our journey
My leaning curve and lessons: What can I do when I have limited resources? Every Catholic is given the Holy Spirit Each of us has a circle or sphere of influence Some are bigger or far and wider with use of media But each person can impact the persons beside us Only one thing is needed, the desire and willpower to do something to make a difference and I can begin by impacting the people around me.
Always hold the victim at the very centre of the narrative
C H _ _ CH What is missing? U R There is no church were YOU ARE missing Together, WE ARE the CHURCH From this Conference, I know I am not alone Together we can safeguard and protect our minors and vulnerable
5 loaves & 2 fish (Mt 14:13-21) Resources I do not have much Wealth, I am limited Will power I do have plenty So what I have and what I can do within my sphere of influence, I am willing to begin with one small action (or more) at a time Like the 5 loaves & 2 fish, I offer my little to Jesus. In his hands, the Lord will multiple and bless the 5000 men, AND women &children Our Lord is a generous God who will given more than we need. You will always have everything you need ad plenty left over to share with others (2 Cor 9:8)
