BELGIUM: Belgians want Catholic Church to give firm response to Belgian bishop facing investigation over more allegations of abuse cases

Record ID: 334603

  • Title: BELGIUM: Belgians want Catholic Church to give firm response to Belgian bishop facing investigation over more allegations of abuse cases
  • Date: 22nd April 2011
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (APRIL 21, 2011) (REUTERS) MAN WALKING INTO CHURCH CARVING ON EXTERIOR OF CHURCH (SOUNDBITE) (French) SALVATORE SIGNIORELLI SAYING: "My view is that it will influence the approach of the people towards the Church but it doesn't change the belief. It's a question of time. I think it will pass." PEOPLE WALKING INTO CHURCH EXTERIOR OF CHURCH STATUES ON CHURCH WALL (SOUNDBITE) (French) NATHALIE VAN CAUBERG SAYING: "I don't practise but I recognise that these acts are oppressive and really don't like the hypocrisy behind that. Catholicism leads to hypocrisy. That's it." JESUS ON THE CROSS INSIDE CHURCH MAN INSIDE CHURCH CANDLES
  • Embargoed: 7th May 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belgium, Belgium
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVAD604MQXNFNU8U2COQRN2F3YY5
  • Story Text: Belgians said they would like a firm response from the Catholic Church on Thursday (April 21) after a disgraced former bishop of Bruges is under renewed investigation over the alleged abuse of two altar boys in the 1960s.
    Roger Vangheluwe, 74, resigned in 2010 after he admitted to abusing his nephew in the 1980s and said in a televised interview last week that he had also abused a second nephew.
    The latest allegations concern two altar boys at a church-organised holiday camp in the 1960s.
    Federal prosecutors said on Wednesday (April 20) there was a new complaint against Mr. Vangheluwe.
    Flemish daily De Morgen wrote on Wednesday that one of the altar boys subsequently committed suicide. The prosecution spokesman declined to comment on this.
    Catholics attending the Church of St. Boniface in Brussels said they would like a firm response from the Vatican to these cases.
    "It is high time to give an opinion and to act rather than staying silent, that can be misinterpreted. I believe there is a need for a clearer message that would reassure the faithful. Instead of reinforcing the current situation which is regrettable," said Jean-Luc Brown outside the church.
    Salvatore Signiorelli, a Catholic faithful said the cases would only taint the view of church goers in the short term.
    "My view is that it will influence the approach of the people towards the Church but it doesn't change the belief. It's a question of time. I think it will pass," he said.
    Nathalie Van Cauberg, a non-practising Catholic, said she had now lost faith in the Church.
    "I don't practise but I recognise that these acts are oppressive and really don't like the hypocrisy behind that. Catholicism leads to hypocrisy. That's it."
    Prosecutors in Bruges said earlier this month that the former bishop could not be charged for molesting his nephew as the offence took place too long ago.
    A similar outcome is expected for the new case, should the incidents turn out to be limited to the 1960s, the prosecution spokesman said.
    Vangheluwe, who served as bishop of Bruges between 1984 and 2010, is the highest ranking member of the Belgian Catholic Church involved in a child abuse scandal that sparked 475 complaints from Belgians saying they were molested by priests. The Vatican sent Vangheluwe abroad to undergo "spiritual and psychological treatment", but is yet to make a final decision on his future.
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