Rainbow of Hope for Children
Statement:
Fr. Shay Cullen,
Rainbow of Hope for Children wishes to express its wholehearted support and solidarity with Fr. Shay Cullen in the Philippines. For many years we have had the good fortune of working with him in our capacity as a Canadian N.G.O.
Fr. Shay's work with PREDA has earned him international recognition as he has received the Weimar Human Rights Award and has also been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Unfortunately his work has also earned the spite of those who organize and operate the sex trade industry. They have been persistent in their attempts to slander him and the present charges against him for sexual abuse are nothing less than the products of their malicious endeavors to frame him.
We in Canada stand firm with Fr. Shay Cullen who has committed his life to defending the weakest members of society, the abused throwaway children. We ask that the present falsified charges against him immediately dropped.
September 24, 2000
Hon. Secretary Artemio Tuquero
Department of Justice
Padre Faura
Manila, Philippines.
Dear Secretary Tuquero,
I am writing you to express my concern regarding the charges filed against Fr. Shay Cullen by Alan Dale Edmonds alleging that his daughter was abused by Fr. Shay while she was in the care of PREDA.
I know these charges are completely false and are perpetrated by a group of conspirators who have long been at work trying to undermine the credibility of Fr. Shay. Over the past two years, Harry Joost and his collaborators have trumped up some fifty false charges against Fr. Shay and PREDA. Edmonds himself made thirty of these false allegations and they were all dismissed from court. The present charge is simply the continuation of their ongoing campaign to slander Fr. Shay and PREDA.
I understand it was on the premises of Harry Joost that the young girl was coerced into writing the incriminating note against Fr. Shay. This fabricated piece of evidence was judged inadequate and dismissed by the public prosecutor some time ago. Despite this ruling and the evidence clearly revealing it as a set up, the group has successfully appealed to the Department of Justice in Manila.
It is incredulous that an upright and just man like Fr. Shay could even be accused of such atrocities. Fr. Shay and the work of PREDA is world-renowned. Fr. Shay's recent nomination for the NOBEL Peace prize and the awarding of the Weimar Human Rights Award give strong international recognition to his contributions. For years Fr. Shay has tirelessly and unwaveringly remained committed to defending the weakest and most vulnerable members of society, the children.
PREDA has presented new evidence in defense of these false and fabricated charges. I urgently request that you initiate a just and swift review of this new evidence and file for a complete dismissal.
I would also like to request that you initiate a review of the evidence against the two boys to whom these allegations belong and that the necessary therapy and rehabilitation be given to them. As well, it is also very important that the government give the young girl who is the victim of these abusers adequate protection from them.
I trust you are a just and sincere man in the execution of
your position as
Secretary of Justice. I urgently request your intervention in this matter to
assure an
expedient review of the new evidence submitted by Fr. Shay. It is of the utmost importance to Fr. Shay, his staff at PREDA, and our organization here in Canada. Such false allegations divert the resources of PREDA from their mission and mandate to those who are most in need, the abused throwaway children who have suffered at the hands of abusers. These children have needs that cannot wait, which makes this matter of the utmost importance so that PREDA can focus its attention on their health and rehabilitation. I confidently trust in your care and attention on this matter and thank you for it.
Yours Sincerely
Terry Ropchan
Director at Large
Rainbow of Hope for Children 11427-106 St.
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T5G 2P8
sent via e-mail and air-mail, dated
September 29, 2000
