Inside paedophilia scandals in one of the most Catholic nations

The Catholic Church is central to everyday life in East Timor, where nearly 98 percent of people practise Catholicism.

But there is a dark side to the church’s presence in the far east of the Indonesian archipelago – paedophilia scandals involving high-profile clergymen.

American priest Richard Daschbach is in prison for his crimes but retains the support of the country’s prime minister, Xanana Gusmao.

Meanwhile, Timorese Bishop Ximenes Belo, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has been disciplined by the Vatican following multiple accusations of rape and sexual assault of young boys.

101 East investigates East Timor’s paedophilia scandals.