The ‘pervert’ leader of a Buddhist temple in Louisiana is accused of making a Vietnamese nun pregnant: A woman was denied an abortion and then returned home
Abbot Quyen Van Ho, leader of the Tam Bao Temple in Baton Rouge, was accused of recruiting Vietnamese Buddhist nuns for sexual relations.
Members of the temple filed a legal claim against Ho, alleging that his actions prompted a mass exodus of members and destroyed the temple’s community.
The lawsuit demanded that Ho be barred from spending temple cash and fired from his post.
Ho denied the charges against him, and his legal team contended that the claims did not require court involvement.
The leader of a Buddhist temple in Louisiana is embroiled in a legal dispute after being accused of sexual misconduct by temple members.
Members of the Tam Bao Temple in Baton Rouge said that Abbot Quyen Van Ho, also known as Thich Dao Quang, routinely recruited Vietnamese Buddhist nuns and then engaged in inappropriate sexual interactions with them.
Allegedly, one of these nuns became pregnant by Ho, and when she sought an abortion, she was deported back to Vietnam without explanation to the temple’s board of directors or members.
The lawsuit alleged that Ho caused irreparable harm to the temple by violating his Buddhist vows, particularly his vow of celibacy, and demanded his expulsion from the temple.
‘Except for Quyen Van Ho and one other monk, all monks, nuns, and novices have left Tam Bao Temple due to Quyen Van Ho’s immoral acts. According to The Advocate, the suit stated that as a result of this decline in membership, the ability of temple members to contribute donations has also diminished.
Ho disputed all charges, and his attorney, Yigal Bander, referred to them as “defamatory lies” and contended that they have no place in a court of law.
Bander stated that the courts do not have the authority to determine who is a good pastor, whether a pastor should be employed or fired, or if a pastor is giving his faith credit or not.
It is uncertain if the court will rule on the case because it skirts the First Amendment’s prohibitions against government interference in the free exercise of religion.
In the interim, the court has ordered both parties to discuss and arrange a leadership election within the temple, which might lead to Ho’s dismissal.
Abbot Quyen Van Ho, leader of the Tam Bao Temple in Baton Rouge, was accused of recruiting Vietnamese Buddhist nuns for sexual relations.
This week, Abbot Quyen Van Ho appeared with his defense counsel, Yigal Bander (left) and Tanner Woods (right), outside a courthouse in Baton Rouge.
Ho has been the leader of the Tam Bao Temple since 2003, and the plaintiffs allege that his conduct continued for years before the lawsuit was filed in April.
Plaintiffs Phuong Le, Lan Tran, Lien Ta, and Elizabeth Le said they first contacted Ho with the claims in 2020, but that their efforts to have him removed had gone nowhere.
This Monday, Lila Ton, a temple member, said outside a Baton Rouge courthouse, “We’ve tried so many channels to grant him forgiveness, and now it’s time for the court to act.”
Mya Tran, another temple member, also spoke outside the courts, claiming that female temple members have been’silenced.’
“As a younger Buddhist woman myself, I believe it is crucial that we shed light on this situation and not remain silent,” Tran said. “I look up to many of these women, especially for what they have done for our community, and seeing them be so oppressed and silenced about this situation really upsets me.”
This Monday, Temple member Lila Ton spoke in front of the Baton Rouge courthouse. She states that the temple community attempted to remove Ho but was unsuccessful.
In addition to precipitating a huge exodus of temple members, the plaintiffs fear that Ho may misappropriate community-donated temple monies.
In addition to his personal sexual misconduct, the suit contends that Ho let monks and nuns to engage in sexual relationships at the temple and violated their celibacy vows.
The plaintiffs claim to have evidence against Ho, including sexually explicit text messages and nude images sent by Ho to nuns.
Regardless of the proof of poor Buddhist behavior that temple members may have, Ho’s attorneys argue that the court has no right to decide his fate within the temple.
This week, Bander stated outside the courthouse, “They have made numerous charges that, as you have heard, have nothing to do with the court.”
Tanner Woods, co-counsel for Bander, stated, “The government has no right to select our religious leaders.”
Since 2003, Abbot Quyen Van Ho has led the Tam Bao Temple. Plaintiffs assert that his misbehavior has persisted for years.
Louisiana’s Tam Bao Temple is located in Baton Rouge. The court has ordered the temple to conduct an internal election to determine Ho’s fate.