Belgian prosecutors questioning cardinal about knowledge of sex-abuse complaints

July 06, 2010

Cardinal Godfried Danneels, the retired Archbishop of Brussels, is being questioned by authorities about the sex-abuse cases that prompted a stunning police raid on his home and the headquarters of the Belgian bishops’ conference.

A spokesman for the cardinal said that he was being questioned as a witness rather than a suspect. However a spokesman for the prosecutor’s office said that Cardinal Danneels “was named in at least 50 files as being aware” of abuse charged.

In a related development, the Belgian justice minister, Stefaan De Clerck, has questioned the methods used in the raid on the Belgian bishops’ offices. He stressed that the prosecutors, operating independently, had the authority to make the search, but suggested that the raid was overly aggressive.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Belgian ex-archbishop questioned over abuse cases (Reuters)
• Police question Belgian cardinal over child abuse: Report (AFP)