Belgian Catholic bishops angered by police raids

[demoleft]

Source: bbc

Roman Catholic bishops in Belgium have expressed their disappointment at a police raid on the offices of a Church commission investigating sexual abuse.

Bishops conference spokesman Eric de Beukelaer said the confiscation of the commission's files violated victims' confidentiality and hindered its work.

Investigators also seized material from the Church's headquarters and the home of the former archbishop of Belgium.
...
In Leuven, investigators seized all 475 dossiers from the offices of the Church commission tracking complaints and compiling evidence about clerical sexual abuse. The computer of the commission's chairman was also taken.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/europe/10411717.stm

---

"What am I supposed to say to someone who gave me information expecting discretion?", is mr Peter Adriaenssens, Church commission on abuse, reported to have said in the bbc page.
he's "really shocked", he's reported to have said.

and he will excuse me if i do not share with his feelings, and hope the state investigations go all the way, which i feel have a priority.
and as to the responsible ones, the church take care of their souls. society and justice will of their bodies, now.

and i hope belgium at least can write a page of truth on this shame.

[truthisfreedom]

1. "What am I supposed to say to someone who gave me information expecting discretion?"

You're supposed to say "If you can't do the time, don't do the crime."

[Kelvin Mace]

11. Don't go to bed with no price on your head

woah, oh, oh....

And keep your eyes on the sparrow....


Sorry, hate missing a song cue.

[liberalla]

2. Discretion for the priests? NO!

Discretion and privacy for the victims, if desired, is fine.

Some of the victims may welcome the chance to finally be heard, and go "public" willingly. If not, they can be John and Jane Doe.

[Heidi]

3. Poor widdle bishops.

Their anger is no match for the pain of the victims. It's not the government's job to protect them at the expense of the truth.

[demoleft]

4. ciao...

...you there. :hi:

[Heidi]

5. Ciao, YOU!

:hug:

[panzerfaust]

6. Catholic headquarters in Belgium focus of police raids in sex abuse cases

was the headline in the Guardian.

The Roman Catholic church was once again at the centre of a child abuse scandal today when police raided the headquarters of the church hierarchy in Belgium. They carried away computers and hundreds of files, amid rumours that church leaders were continuing to cover up abuse cases despite a public plea for forgiveness last month ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/24/belgium-catholic-church-sex-claims

[saigon68]

7. They want to discipline ----MR WINKIE

[Soylent Brice]

8. boo fucking hoo. n/t

[demoleft]

9. REACTIONS: vatican summons belgian ambassador Charles Ghislain over police raids.

...and expresses "astonishment" ("stupore") for the ways the police raids took place.
source: only in italian for now, http://www.agi.it/estero/notizie/201006251422-est-rt10170-preti_pedofili_vaticano_convoca_ambasciatore_belgio

[Kelvin Mace]

10. Huh?

"What am I supposed to say to someone who gave me information expecting discretion?",

Are you keeping notes on what you hear in the confessional?

Sorry, if you wish not to be treated as criminals, don't commit criminal acts.

[demoleft]

12. REACTIONS, 2: "Belgian police paedophilia raids 'went too far' "- Belgian Archbishop A.J. Leonard

"The justice system does its work and it has the right to carry out searches. Nonetheless I find it slightly surprising that it went as far as rummaging around the tombs of bishops and that all the bishops were held until evening," Archbishop Andre-Joseph Leonard told reporters.
The "sequestration" of the bishops showed "perhaps an excessive zeal," the primate added.
afp, http://www.france24.com/en/20100625-belgian-police-paedophilia-raids-went-far


as to me, i'm having a lot of fun these hours, enjoying the church fret and squirm like this, like a fish out of the sea.
for the first time, catholic church leaders back to the wall in sharing their own secrets about sex abuse.

it's kind of a purgatory on the way to purification, isn't it?
well, belgium - on.

[NashVegas]

13. Eh, I Don't Think So

By the time a clergy abuse victim has mustered up enough determination and courage to get over their fear of confronting authority and to take their issue to the Church's doorstep, whether or not the police find the files isn't really a concern.

[demoleft]

14. REACTIONS, 3: update. Vatican anger at Belgian raids on archbishops' graves

AFP - The Vatican said Friday it was indignant and astonished at raids by Belgian police investigating child sex abuse that included a search of the graves of two archbishops.
...
The Vatican voiced "astonishment over how the searches were carried out yesterday by Belgian judicial authorities and its indignation over the violation of the graves of the Cardinals Jozef-Ernest Van Roey and Leon-Joseph Suenens."

A spokesman for Brussels prosecutors said the raid, involving dozens of officers and investigators, followed a string of accusations "denouncing abuse of minors committed by a certain number of Church figures."

source, afp: http://www.france24.com/en/20100625-vatican-anger-belgian-raids-archbishops-graves

[LeftishBrit]

15. So they think they should be above the law?

[RainDog]

16. Do you think it's possible that the Belgian govt will bring criminal charges?

Because that's what's really needed.

Are there statutes of limitations for those who aided and abetted pedophiles in Belgian law?

It would be a great thing if those who covered up for the pedophiles could also be charged as criminals.