Salesians remove Dutch delegate following pedophilia comments

May 24, 2011

Father Herman Spronck, the leading Salesian priest in the Netherlands, was removed from his position following the publication of comments in which he stated that “pedophile sex could be accepted,” in the words of the Reuters news agency.

“Herman Spronck is no longer the delegate from the Salesian delegation in the Netherlands,” said Father Jos Claes, leader of the Salesians in Belgium and the Netherlands. “We fully distance ourselves from the words we find in your interview with Herman Spronck.”

Father Spronck made his comments after a Dutch news agency discovered that a Salesian priest had served on the board of an organization that seeks to legalize pedophilia. The priest, identified in news reports as Father Van B., “can longer perform any pastoral duties as of today,” Father Claes said.

 

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Further information:

• Dutch Catholic order hit by pedophile group scandal (Reuters)
• Dutch Salesian leader sacked for paedophilia comments (DutchNews.nl)
• Dutch priest served on board of pedophile organization (CWN, 5/23)