Buddhist nun sues Westminster temple leader for sexual assault

A Buddhist nun has reportedly filed a lawsuit in California’s Orange County accusing the leader of a Westminster temple of sexual assault.

What she’s saying: The victim claims that Venerable Xuan Ngoc Ho, the abbot of Dieu Ngu Buddhist Temple, sexually assaulted and raped her three times, with the latest incident occurring in March 2024, as per the Southern California News Group. Despite security measures, the abbot allegedly managed to sneak into the female dormitory.

The plaintiff, who immigrated from Vietnam in January 2024, says she was promised a religious worker visa and assistance to obtain U.S. citizenship. Beyond her sexual assault claims, she alleges severe labor violations, including being paid as low as $300 a month for 15-hour, seven-days-a-week work days and having to stay in a cramped room without a bathroom, running water and adequate ventilation. She was expelled from the temple and her immigration documents were withheld after she threatened to report the abbot.

The big picture: The suit emerges as Buddhist institutions across Asia face mounting scandals exposing sexual misconduct among religious leaders. In China, authorities are investigating the famed Shaolin Temple’s abbot Shi Yongxin for suspected embezzlement and improper relationships with women, with China’s Buddhist Association revoking his ordination certificate.

Thailand has also confronted scandal. There, a 35-year-old was arrested July 15 for allegedly engaging in sexual relations with nine senior Buddhist monks and extorting approximately $11.9 million from them over three years. Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has ordered nationwide temple audits in response.

The 20-count suit seeks compensatory damages and unpaid wages as the case moves forward.