Belgian cardinal admits he should have demanded resignation of abuser-bishop

September 08, 2010

Belgian Cardinal Godfried Danneels conceded that he had made mistakes in his handling of sex-abuse allegations, and should have demanded the immediate resignation of a bishop who had molested a boy.

In an interview published by La Libre Belgique the retired Archbishop of Brussels admitted that he had made “an enormous error” by agreeing to meet with the bishop’s victim. He said that Bishop Roger Vangheluwe had asked him to meet with the victim and his family, without explaining the situation.

When he learned that the bishop had molested the young man, Cardinal Danneels said, “I should have immediately asked Msgr. Vangheluwe to offer his resignation.” He said that too often, in handling abuse cases, he had been concerned with preserving appearances rather than stopping the abuse.

The cardinal also said that he was puzzled by the fact that although the young man had been abused over a period of years, beginning more than 25 years before his meeting with the family, no one in that family had ever notified the police.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Le cardinal Danneels: "J’aurais dû demander la démission de Mgr Vangheluwe" (La Libre Belgique )
• Belgian cardinal admits mistakes in sex abuse case (Reuters)
• Ex-head of Belgian Catholic church: 'All too often' damage control key in discussing abuse (CP)