wfn.org | Independent Taiwan Minister Acquitted of Sex Abuse Charges

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@wfn.org>]

Topic: Dinosaur Justice for Taiwan's Women
Taiwan Church News 2577
Reported by Yeh Hsiao-ting, Written by David Alexander

Sex Abusing Pastor Walks Free. Old Testament Principles Applied

      From 1986 to 1999 the Rev. Tang Tai-seng, pastor of the
independent, Mandarin language "Christian Disciples Church" in Taoyuan
ordered teenage girls to disrobe in front of him while his wife was
present.  He proceeded to touch their breasts under the guise of what he
called "sex education".  The young virgins obeyed his instructions
because, standing on his position as their pastor, he told them that God
would be displeased and their future marriages would be doomed if they
did not cooperate. As many as thirty church members were recipients of
this treatment.
      In February of 1999 five of his victims came forward to file a
complaint against him.  He was convicted in district court and sentenced
to three years in prison.  He appealed to the Taiwan High Court.  On
June 21st this court acquitted him saying that the original testimony
had not proved his guilt "beyond a reasonable doubt."  The judges said
that there was no evidence that the girls had been physically forced or
coerced into sexual activities, nor any evidence that they had
resisted.  One added that the problem was an inter-generational
misunderstanding, because a touch on the breast by a man of Rev. Tong's
age to a young girl should be regarded as an affectionate sign of
kindness with no sexual content to it.  These judges used logic
paralleling that found in Deuteronomy 22 about the guilt of rape
victims.  The girls were guilty because they did not cry out.
      The Garden of Hope Foundation, a non-profit Christian agency for
victims of sexual assault points out that the judges hearing the appeal
refused to listen to expert testimony on sexual abuse.  They applied
personal standards of "dinosaur justice" in making their decision.  Ms.
Chi Hui-jung, the foundation's executive director, said, "These judges
operate from a foundation in patriarchy that allows them in open court
to ask rape victims if they had been virgins prior to being assaulted.
They assert the rights of husbands to their wives' bodies in cases of
spousal rape.  Women in Taiwan have lost faith in the judicial system as
a route for protection or redress in cases of sexual abuse."
      One of Mr. Tang's victims said, "After I pressed charges the courts
only offered resistance at every turn.  Outside of the court I was
harassed by Mr. Tang's wife and her sister.  They went to the schools
and homes of victims, and made phone calls threatening to reveal our
names to the mass media."
      Speaking of the decision, Ms. Chi said, "It is a serious setback to
the movement for women's personal liberty for which we have fought for
many years."

For more information: Garden of Hope Foundation +886 2 25507028