The Catholic Church in Belgium today promised to help the victims of alleged sexual abuse and punish the abusers after an independent report detailed widespread offences by clergy.Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels and Primate of Belgium Andre-Mutien Leonard said “a feeling of anger and powerlessness” had taken hold of the church.
He said that the crisis gripping the church was so deep that it would be impossible to find an easy way out.
The report listed 507 witnesses who came forward with stories of abuse at the hands of clergy over decades. It said those abused included children who were two, four, five and six years old.
Family members or friends said 13 victims committed suicide that “was related to sexual abuse by clergy,” the report said. Six other witnesses said they had attempted suicide.
The Archbishop said the Belgian church was struggling with how to respond. “We want to draw the necessary lessons from the mistakes of the past,” he said.
“The challenge is so big and touches on so many emotions, it seems impossible to us to present a new proposal in all its details (now),” Dr Leonard said of plans to go after the abusers and protect the victims.
The panel’s report was the latest embarrassment for Belgium’s Church, which is still reeling after the April resignation of Bruges Bishop Roger Vangheluwe, who admitted to having sexually abused a nephew for years when he was a priest and bishop decades ago.
Victims and a leading senator have already called religious authorities to punish him.
Dr Leonard said it was up to the Vatican to decide on any punishment. “It is not up to Monsignor Vangheluwe himself. The nuncio has assured us that a decision in Rome will be taken with a reasonable time limit,” he said.
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