This Thursday, Foreign Correspondent takes viewers to Thailand, where Buddhism is deeply rooted and revered, and the monks who lead the religion hold a special place in society. However, a series of scandals involving corruption, adultery, drug use, and even murder have cast a shadow over the religion’s moral authority.
In this episode, ABC’s South-East Asia Correspondent Lauren Day investigates the growing number of scandals engulfing Thai Buddhism. She joins the Thai police as they go undercover to expose badly behaving monks and also accompanies the Monk Police on their patrols, witnessing their efforts to catch and discipline wayward monks.
Lauren Day examines the efforts of the Thai authorities and the Buddhist community to address these scandals and restore faith in the religion’s moral standing. She explores the impact of these incidents on the perception of Buddhism in Thailand and the challenges faced in maintaining the integrity of the religious institution.
Foreign Correspondent: Profile Bad Monks airs on ABC Australia and ABC iview on Thursday, August 8, 2024, at 8.00 pm.
