Beware of a Suspected Molester Known as Fr. José, Bishops Warn

It's like Spotlight all over again. A Spanish priest accused of molesting underage parishioners and is facing sexual abuse allegations has escaped his home country and may have fled to the Philippines. 

His name is Fr. José Maximiano Campos Ruiz. In a circular released by the CBCP, Archbishop Florentino Lavarias of San Fernando is asking the public to be vigilant and report any pertinent information to the church. 

Imposing a stricter crackdown on clergy members accused of sex crimes, Pope Francis last year mandated that churches must have a system for reporting abuse. In December, he also abolished the secrecy policy surrounding such cases.

In July 2019, the CBPC created an office that aimed to address sex abuse cases in the Philippines.