A senior monk in Chiang Rai is under investigation following the circulation of a viral video that allegedly shows him engaged in gay sexual activity with another man. The scandal, which broke this week, has caused shock and disillusionment within the local Buddhist community.
On Thursday, officials from the Chiang Rai Provincial Office of Buddhism visited the temple in Mueang District to gather evidence and question those involved, including the layman seen in the footage. Meanwhile, the district monk leader has been assigned to conduct additional questioning, with initial findings expected later in the day.
The accused monk, 72, who has been ordained for more than 30 years and also serves as a subdistrict ecclesiastical chief, denied wrongdoing. He claimed he had been secretly filmed outside his living quarters and insisted the footage did not reflect the truth. Speaking to reporters, he suggested his blunt speech style may have upset locals, hinting at possible motives for those who circulated the video.
Despite his denial, many residents have expressed deep disappointment. Some locals have called for the monk to be defrocked to restore trust in the temple, while others admitted they now feel uneasy about attending religious ceremonies. “I haven’t seen the video myself, but people say it looks like him. I don’t know what to believe,” said one long-time temple visitor, a 68-year-old resident.
The scandal comes just days after another senior monk in Chiang Rai resigned from the monkhood following multiple complaints. That abbot, who had served since the age of 20 and was well-respected, stepped down earlier this month amid allegations of late-night outings and rumored involvement with a woman. His resignation shocked both villagers and fellow monks, who had long admired his service.
The two scandals, occurring within the same week, have rattled confidence in the monkhood, which remains central to Thai society, where over 90% of the population practices Buddhism. In recent years, the image of the monkhood has been tarnished by allegations of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement, and other breaches of monastic vows.
Religious authorities now face mounting pressure to address misconduct and enforce stricter accountability among monks. For many in Chiang Rai, the latest controversies represent not only personal disappointment but also a growing crisis of faith in the integrity of temple leadership.
