Belgian newspaper defamed Cardinal Danneels, lawyer charges
September 01, 2010
A Belgian newspaper “voluntarily and deliberately defamed” Cardinal Godfried Danneels when it published transcripts of a conversation between the cardinal and a victim of sexual abuse, the cardinal’s lawyer has charged.
Fernand Keueleneer, the lawyer representing Cardinal Danneels, said the the daily De Standaard culled out selected passages from a transcript of the conversation between the retired prelate and a man who was abused for years by Bishop Roger Vangheluwe. The lawyer said that Cardinal Danneels had not been prepared for the conversation, and needed time to reflect on the man’s report before taking action. “This has nothing to do with a plot or a cover-up,” Keuleneer said.
The cardinal’s lawyer pointed out that just two weeks after the meeting between Cardinal Danneels and the abuse victim, Bishop Vangheluwe resigned. “Cardinal Danneels had also come to the conclusion that that was the only adequate way of proceeding,” Keuleneer said.
In his conversation with the victim—which was recorded without the cardinal’s knowledge—Cardinal Danneels had asked the victim to hold off on his complaints against the bishop under Vangheluwe retired.
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Posted by: -
Sep. 02, 2010 12:18 PM ET USA
If Cardinal Danneels had had time to prepare for this conversation, he would have had time to be deceptive. The victim must have known that. It is the pattern for those who cover up. They get indignant because they were not warned. They should be overwhelmed by the evil of a little kid having to share holiday dinners with his uncle in the clergy who was absolute scum. Imagine that kind of shame. I had eleven uncles as a child, some Catholic, some not, but none like that. Not even close.
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Posted by: hartwood01 -
Sep. 01, 2010 7:51 PM ET USA
I would think being questioned for 10 hours the previous month regarding clergy sexual abuse would be sufficient vetting for the Cardinal. It wouldn't matter if the victim was wearing a wire or not. Danneels was more concerned for the perpetrator than the victim. De Standaard was just doing what they do,I would think.
