The ex-bishop at the centre of the Belgian Catholic Church's
paedophilia scandal has left Belgium under Vatican orders to seek
spiritual and psychological treatment, the Holy See's embassy said
Saturday.
Roger Vangheluwe resigned as bishop of Bruges last year when he
admitted sexually abusing his nephew between 1973 and 1986, plunging the
Church into a deep crisis.
He went into seclusion following his
resignation.
After reviewing his case, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith, which judges the most serious offences, decided to ask Vangheluwe
to leave Belgium, the Vatican's nunciature in Brussels said in a
statement.
The decision was made even though the statute of limitations in the
case had expired under canonic law, the nunciature said.
It did not say
what country he was heading to.
Vangheluwe must "undergo a period of spiritual and psychological
treatment," the statement said.
The former bishop has lived in different
locations, "without a permanent address," since his resignation in
April last year, it said.
The nunciature did not say if the Vatican decided to defrock
Vangheluwe, a decision that would rest in the hands of Pope Benedict
XVI.
Vangheluwe has apologised to his victim, the victim's family, the
Church and others. However many have called for him to be dismissed from
the Church.
Following his resignation, a Church-backed commission revealed in
September nearly 500 cases of abuse by Belgian priests and lay workers
since the 1950s, including 13 victims who committed suicide.