Belgian Deacon accused of serial murder. Will Cardinal have to testify?

The defence of Ivo Poppe, a former deacon accused of at least 10 murders, wants Cardinal Jozef De Kesel to testify during his trial before the Bruges court of assizes, it said on Thursday at a preliminary hearing. The final list of witnesses will be available on 9 November.

Ivo Poppe, the former deacon of Wevelgem, is accused of at least 10 murders.

Ivo Poppe, 61, is the former deacon of Wevelgem. He has been incarcerated since May 2014 because he was reported to have accelerated the deaths of several terminally ill patients between 1980 and 2011 while working as a nurse and then as a pastoral collaborator in Menin's Sacré-Coeur Hospital now AZ Delta). Four members of his family, including his mother, are also among the victims.

Accused of killing and illegal practice of medicine, the 60-year-old explained that he had delivered the terminally ill from the sufferings but only at their request and in order to help them.

Long list of witnesses

On Thursday, Attorney General Serge Malefason said he wanted to hear 54 witnesses during the trial. The defence prepared a list of 38 witnesses. It includes the name of Jozef De Kesel, the Archbishop of Malines-Bruxelles and Belgian cardinal, who was at the head of the diocese of Bruges at the time of the events.

It is unclear to what extent Jozef De Kesel knew Ivo Poppe. The defense also wants to bring in two doctors to counterbalance the report of the forensic pathologist.

Court President Bart Meganck will present the list of witnesses on 9 November. The composition of the jury will follow on 15 January 2018, before the start of the trial itself on 22 January.

Ivo Poppe, who faces life imprisonment, will be defended by Filip De Reuse and An Govers. Raf Van Goethem and Thierry Vansweevelt will represent the hospital, AZ Delta, the civil party. The interests of the diocese of Bruges will be defended by Jan and Sarah Leysen.

Source

See also Belgian priest suggests celebration when Catholics die from euthanasia

Vatican gives Belgian religious order last chance in euthanasia dispute

Euthanasia dispute: Vatican gives religious order its last chance

All the deadlines have passed, and conversations have been held: now the Vatican gives the Belgian Brothers of Charity the last chance to comply with to the doctrine of the Church.

The Vatican wants to invite the Belgian branch of the Brothers of Charity (Broeders van Liefde) to discussion on active euthanasia. They are to be given the opportunity to explain their point of view, according to the press release of the General Administration of the Brothers of Charity in Rome, published on Monday. The meeting in Rome was the last chance for the organisation to reconcile itself with Catholic doctrine, according to the statement.

On Friday, Rene Stockman met with representatives from the Vatican and informed them about the current situation. On September 12th, the Belgian organisation of the Brothers of Charity had reaffirmed its position to no longer rule out active euthanasia for the mentally ill in the non-terminal stage. The organisation manages 15 psychiatric clinics in Belgium.

Since its foundation in Ghent in 1807, the Order of the "Broeders van Liefde" has been particularly committed to the care of the mentally ill. In Belgium, they look after 5,500 patients; they are responsible in Flanders for one third of the beds in the area of ​​mental illness. The Order has 603 members worldwide and is active in 31 countries

Source

Making a mockery of the intentions of their founder, Canon Petrus-Jozef Triest

The way they used to live

The way they live now.  

The Belgian superior second from left, although identifying him as a priest would be difficult.   He has spoken, however, of the shame that his Belgian brothers are bringing to his order.

Least favorite Archbishop of Pope Francis desperate to retire.

André-Joseph Léonard wants to retire as soon as possible. His letter of resignation to the Pope is already finished, the archbishop of Malines-Brussels declares to VTM News. Leonard is 75 in May next year. Then he should offer his resignation as archbishop. Usually, the Vatican asks bishops to remain in office until a successor is found. This took nearly two years in the case of Cardinal Godfried Danneels, his predecessor. Leonard himself does not agree. He writes in a letter which he will send to Pope Francis in May next year.  (see also Pope's brother slams Cardinal Danneels)

Leonard followed the popular Danneels as Archbishop on January 18, 2010. His aloof, ultraconservative stance made him not popular among the faithful, on the contrary. Very Catholic Belgium Léonard almost turned his back. He churned out insults to homosexuals, but stated repeatedly he was wrongly quoted.

The controversy began in 2007 when, as the then Bishop of Namur in an interview with the magazine Télémoustique he said gay people were "abnormal". "Homosexuals are inhibited in their normal psychological development. That is unusual," he said. When he got furious reactions, Léonard was  in denial – then still André-Mutien Léonard suddenly said. "I think I did not use the word "abnormal", he attempted to say. In vain, for the recording of the interview is unforgiving: that word was on the archbishop’s lips. (see similar comments by the late Belgian Cardinal Joos in extensive article)

In the same interview, he also threw doubt on the effectiveness of condoms as a contraceptive. He compared them to "Russian roulette". According to Leonard,condoms are "only useful for the reckless who need multiple partners," he declared in 2010, when he was only just appointed as archbishop.

In his new position, he did not change in tone. As a brand new Belgian church leader, he compared homosexuality with anorexia – like a disease. "I'm going to make a comparison, anorexia is a development that can not be reconciled with appetite, but I would never say that anorexics are abnormal," said Leonard on RTL-TVI.

As the storm around his person did not ceased, and complaints continued to rain, theologian Jürgen Mettepenningen was appointed as a spokesman. He was commissioned to frame Leonards statements. A few months later, he threw in the towel. It could hardly be otherwise because Leonard was throwing oil on the fire. The archbishop was quoted by the largest newspapers worldwide when he
said AIDS was "a form of immanent justice". 

That statement once again led to a new wave of protest, but Leonard took no word back. A few later days, a churchgoer threw later a pie in Leonard‘s face during a Mass for All Saints‘ Day in Brussels. A year later, he was on a visit to the University of Louvain-La-Neuve when he received four pies in the face.

Also remarried divorcees were not safe from Leonard. According to him, they had to first do an examination of conscience, before they went to hold a function in Catholic education. Divorced men and women also had better not go to communion, Leonard said three years ago. He advised that gay people should lead a celibate life.

Finally got the crematoria a slap. Leonard finds them "sanctuaries of the death industry." The Archbishop finds burials, "much more pious".

Late on Tuesday night allows Léonard, who was never appointed cardinal, to look deep into his soul in "The Year", the December portrait series of Telefacts. The programme starts at 21:40 pm

Source

Police raid on Cardinal was illegal

Operation Chalice: The documents seized from Archbishop Danneels should be excluded from the dossier

The Supreme Court has spoken definitively on Tuesday about the documents seized in June 2010 by the Brussels magistrate Wim De Troy from the Archbishop's Palace of Mechelen and from offices and the private residence of Cardinal Danneels. The highest court in the land ruled that the Brussels Court of Indictments in Brussels had reason to exclude these documents from the file because the searches were not legal.

The searches were carried out on 24 June 2010, as part of Operation Chalice, the judicial investigation by Brussels judge de Troy about sexual abuse within the Church and suspected maneuvers to suppress the facts on the part of the hierarchy.

Source

Cardinal defends homosexual marriage legislation

Cardinal Godfried Danneels defends legislation for same-sex marriage in an interview with this newspaper, though he feels that there is another term that should be found for relationships between people of the same sex. Archbishop Leonard sides with him. 'Do not call it gay marriage, but a gay relationship. "

D e Tijdspoke with Godfried Danneels following his eightieth birthday.
There have been months of massive demonstrations against gay marriage, which has been accepted by parliament. In France on Wednesday, there was the first legally blessed marriage , heavily protected from protesters. When asked what he thinks of the attitude of his church in this discussion Danneels says, "You know what the Church says about these problems, I do not want to go against it. But I think it's a positive development that states open up free civil marriage for homosexuals if they want. "

Can you not as a human being identify with this orientation?
Cardinal Godfried Danneels,

The reasoning goes like this: "Can you not as a human being identify with this orientation? I think there is a clear evolution in the thinking of the church. Also towards people who commit suicide, for example. Previously, that condemned you to be not being buried in a cemetery - of course you cannot do such things! It is much more nuanced thinking about the person in their totality rather than being fixated on the moral principle. '

Politically sensitive
Same-sex marriage is currently politically sensitive in several European countries.The British Parliament is considering the opening up of civil marriage to persons of the same sex. In Paris, hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets against gay marriage. Recently historian Dominique Venner put a bullet through his head at the high altar of Notre Dame in protest against gay marriage. Nineteen countries, including Belgium, have already opened civil marriage , dozens of other countries will follow in the coming years.

On what is legal, what one can do legitimately and legally, the Church has nothing to say.
CardinalGodfried Danneels,

Danneels has a reputation of being in the vanguard of the troops. As in 2004, when he set the Vatican in turmoil by declaring that someone who is HIV positive would be better to use a condom during sex. About gay marriage, he is clear, albeit cautiously: "It is positive if states want to regulate the relationships between people of the same sex but for the Church it is not real marriage as between man and woman. So you have a different name cited in the dictionary sites. But on what is legal, what one can do legitimately and legally, the Church has nothing to say.. "

Obligation
The statements fit in with a change in the Vatican.
Paul Van Geest,
Professor of Church History, University of Tilburg

“What Cardinal Danneels says is remarkable. Here he creates a noteworthy opening, because the institution of the Church is opposed to a civil marriage, that regulates and legitimises sexual relationships between people of the same sex' "says Rik Torfs, professor of canon law and rector-elect of the university. Paul Van Geest, professor of church history and his colleague at the University of Tilburg, gives perspective."There is the story put out by the New York Times that the current Pope, Jorge Bergoglio, as archbishop of Buenos Aires behind the scenes campaigned for legal rights for gay couples and civil union, a fight he lost in the Argentine Episcopal Conference. (See Cathcon- witness inside the Episcopal Conference) ;The statements fit in with a change in the Vatican. "

Also Archbishop Andre Leonard sides with Danneels, "The position of Danneels is that of the Archbishop ', says Jeroen Moens, a spokesman for the archdiocese."Monsignor Leonard has no problem with a legal commitment between gay men. But he would not call it marriage. Let us say that Monsignor Leonard endorses a gay commitment. Marriage happens before the Church in the complementarity of man and woman. Such complementarity is impossible between two people of the same sex. "

Let us say that Monsignor Leonard endorses a gay commitment.
Jeroen Moens,
Archdiocese spokesman

Danneels, in other words, is not the only ecclesiastical dignitary who recently reached out to gay couples. Archbishop Piero Marini, the Papal Master of Ceremonies promoted by Pope Benedict (Cathcon- well, not exactly) recently remarked that "it is time to recognize that many couples suffer because their civil rights are not recognized.

Similar words were spoken earlier this year Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family - before he was rebuffed


Source Cathcon- Archbishop Leonard is in theory at least meant to be a conservative. Like origami, turn a conservative inside out and you get a liberal. You cannot do that with tradition. See also German Cardinal defends mutually caring homosexual relationships

Pressure on Cardinal Danneels not to attend Conclave

The representatives of the victims of the paedophile priests "do not want him not to go"

Father Rik Devillé, head of the group "Human Rights in the Church" wants to prevent the Cardinal Godfried Danneels from participating in the next conclave. "It would be morally inappropriate given everything we know about how the cardinal was silent for years about sexual abuse by his priests! And then there is always an ongoing investigation for culpable negligence by absence or non-assistance to people in danger. "

Judgment falls like a guillotine blade from the former parish priest who never ceases to settle accounts with his institution, and he is obviously inspired by the campaign against the presence of American cardinal Roger Mahony in the conclave who faces strong critcism on both sides of the Atlantic.

But comparison is not right: the former Archbishop of Los Angeles relieved by his successor Msgr Gomez and can not speak or act in the American Church. He is called to the conclave, because he is not yet 80 years old because the Pope has not (yet) been led to the logical conclusion to deprive him of his title of cardinal. A heavy decision , so heavy that there is only one precedent: Cardinal Louis Billot, who could not accept the condemnation by the Church of Action française and Charles Maurras.

Rik Devillé however did not budge: he suggests that the successor Godfried Danneels, Archbishop Léonard, should follow his fellow Californian, and also remove the cardinal. No question of starting a petition here, but " Mensenrechten Kerk" will contact directly parishes and local communities in the coming days.

What do the top of the church think of this? Spokesman for the Bishops' Conference, Fr Tommy Scholtes SJ has no doubt that Cardinal Danneels will go to Rome and will have the rest next week to farewell the current pope. "It is a duty for him, especially as this is an important vote for the universal Church as it is for Belgium. I will go further: if there was no real reason, the conclave could be invalidated! Finally, Rik Devillé is aware that there is the presumption of innocence. "

The controversy arises at the moment of the publication of the first report of the Arbitration Center of Parliament and the Belgian Church. Finally, 621 victims of clerical abuse have made a request for compensation. So far, 67 cases have been treated, resulting in damages of 303,000 euros. The Church will pay finally about 2.5 to 3 million euros. So far, it has paid compensation of 5000 euros relating to 48 "lighter" cases and larger amounts for 19 "serious" cases.

Source

Wife and accomplice of pedophile and murderer to enter convent

Belgique: l'ex-femme de Marc Dutroux va quitter la prison pour entrer au couvent - RTBF Societe

Michelle Martin, the ex-wife and accomplice of the Belgian pedophile murdered, Marc Dutroux, will be released after serving more than half of her sentence of 30 years imprisonment, in order to enter a convent in Belgium and provided she "keeps distance" from the victims' families.

The Parole Court in Mons (TAP), which looked for the fifth time since 2007 on the application for parole of Michelle Martin, authorized her on Tuesday to stay in the convent of the Sisters of the Poor Clares Malonne near Namur in the south, provided they "keeps distance" from the victims' families.

Michelle Martin will not get out of jail immediately. The Prosecutor General shall have 24 hours to lodge an appeal and the defense a period of 15 days.

Sister Christine, abbess of the Poor Clares of Malonne, confirmed that her institution was ready to welcome the former wife of Marc Dutroux. "It was a challenge for us, we were upset by the horrible suffering of the victims and their families" she says in a statement.

" How to bring these two realities at once? (...) Our heart of women was troubled. We chose to welcome both these suffering, one with the other, "she added.

Incarcerated since her arrest in 1996, Michelle Martin, 52, has served more than half of 30 years imprisonment to which she was sentenced in 2004.

A former teacher, she was convicted of having kidnapped a number of young victims of Marc Dutroux and to have starved to death Julie Lejeune and Melissa Russo, aged eight years, immured in a dungeon built his house in Marcinelle, near Charleroi.

His lawyer, Thierry Moreau, acted on RTL-TVI that it " this is not the woman who returned to prison in 1996."

"Her guilt will to continue into the grave, the only thing she can try to do is try to redeem herself, "he added.

”Irreducible sentences"

The families of the victims denounced the court ruling. "Victims' rights are violated", accused one of their lawyers, Georges-Henri Beauthier.

"It's the fox that will be thrown into a chicken coop , "said Jean-Denis Lejeune, Julie's father (Julie was one of the victims), who believes that Michelle Martin was" responsible for the deaths of four children . " " I do not accept forgiveness and reintegration , "he said. In May 2011, a petition for early release had been accepted by the TAP Mons.

As part of his rehabilitation program, the former wife of Marc Dutroux, who says he became very religious, had proposed to reside in a convent in France. But the French Ministry of Justice had blocked this option, saying it risked creating a disturbance of public order.

On Tuesday came the reactions of the political world. The President of the Reform Movement Charles Michel said it was " urgent "to" revive the struggle "for the establishment of" mandatory sentencing".

Marc Dutroux was sentenced to life imprisonment for kidnapping, false imprisonment and rape, between June 1995 and August 1996 of six girls and adolescents, as well as the deaths of four of them.

The community of old and 

a distorted image of St Clare which they now worship.

After all the scandal in the Belgium Church, 

they could not be more insensitive

Hackers want to make sure Belgian church is silenced

Des hackers veulent « contraindre l’Église belge au silence » | La-Croix.com

The Dutch-Belgian Catholic site www.kerknet.be was still inaccessible on Tuesday morning May 29, due to hacker attacks which it has suffered for over a month.

According to Toon Osaer, director of the company, Halewijn that publishes Kerk & Leven , the site has suffered cyber attacks since April 27 which make access impossible.

"The attacks were carried out simultaneously from multiple computers, so that the full width of the bandwidth (the ability to connect to the server, Ed) is used and the website is no longer accessible, Toon Osaer stated. One of the first steps was to change our DNS settings, but the pirates knew we could not be illusory and they would find us anyway. "

Toon Osaer then claims to have tried to contact the hackers. "I was advised that they want to force the Church into silence. There are therefore a clear ideological connotations for this action, "he says.

Hackers have signed their letter, written in English, "on behalf of TS." However, the use of language reveals that they are not native English speakers.

A complaint has meanwhile been filed with the Federal Belgian Computer Crime Unit.

Pedophile bishop remains unpunished by church or state

Vangheluwe nog altijd niet gestraft - Het Nieuwsblad

Two years after he was forced to resigned as Bishop of Bruges, Roger Vangheluwe has still not been punished by the Pope. The pastor may no longer lead worship but still retains the title of bishop. This should not be taking place according to the Working Group on Human Rights in the Church "Archbishop Danneels and Leonard his successor did not insist in Rome on a punishment and meanwhile let the victims continue to suffer."

Press reports that Cardinal Danneels to be questioned again

Federaal parket geeft geen commentaar over verloop onderzoek Operatie Kelk - Belga Algemeen - Knack.be - Knack.be:

The federal prosecutor makes no comment nor reaction to the news in recent days in the press about Operation Chalice about the results of the judicial investigation or impending investigation activities. According to the spokeswoman, Lieve Pellens, the timing of the closure of the investigation suggested in the media is at least premature.

Belgian prosecutor's office does not comment on the progress of the Operation Chalice investigation

Het Laatste Nieuws reported that Cardinal Danneels had been informed of sexual abuse by clergy at least forty times in recent years, while De Morgen on Thursday announced that the Cardinal would again be questioned in the coming days. "We do not comment on the contents of the judicial inquiry, neither the results nor other acts of investigation or whether or not questioning is imminent." Different media also report that Operation Chalice, the judicial inquiry into the facts of negligence of sexual abuse of minors within the Catholic Church is in its final stages and that the trial judge would shortly charge some people. "The timing is at least premature," said Pellens. "Mrs. Calewaert took over the investigation in  early April from Mr. Troy. She needs time to work. Moreover, the Court of Indictment once again has to make a ruling on the documents seized in Cardinal Danneels and the archdiocese."

Cardinal's lawyer tries to stop incriminating leaks by going to court

Le cardinal Danneels "n'a rien à ajouter" - 7SUR7.be

Cardinal Godfried Danneels has nothing to add to the answers he gave to the Commission of Inquiry on sexual abuse was his reaction Wednesday, speaking through his lawyer, after the publishing of an article in Het Laatste Nieuws which indicates that he had been notified at least forty times of cases of sexual abuse within the Church committed in recent decades. The lawyer of the Cardinal will file a complaint to determine whether there has been a violation of the confidentiality of investigations, he says in a statement.

The Flemish newspaper article is a "poor dish, badly warmed, not by coincidence published a few days after the judgement of the Court of Cassation last week, in which the illegality of searches and seizures has been finally confirmed," said Fernand Keuleneer.

The lawyer said that he was once again appalled that Het Laatste Nieuws “refers to “sources close to the judiciary”, and that the newspaper provides information on the state of the investigation, and what conclusions or not the justices have already reached"

The cardinal and his council will again complain to the judge "to determine if, once again, there is a question of disinformation and manipulation of the investigation, and a violation of the secrecy of the investigation. "

In an article published Wednesday, the Flemish daily recounted that Cardinal Danneels had been informed at least forty times of cases of sexual abuse within the Church in recent decades, based on letters from the records of Operation Chalice.

Cardinal Danneels knew about 40 cases of sexual abuse

'Belgische kardinaal wist van kindermisbruik' - RTL Nieuws.nl


The Belgian Cardinal Godfried Danneels was definitely informed forty times of sexual abuse within the Belgian Catholic Church, according to the Flemish newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, which relies on a correspondence between the cardinal and the victims or their families. These letters have emerged as part of the extensive investigation, named Operation Chalice.

The 78-year-old Danneels has always denied having been aware of child abuse by clergy. From the letters, it appears that the cardinal, in his previous role as archbishop, would pray for the victims. In some cases he gave spiritual advice, but he never went to the justices, the newspaper says.

Raids on Cardinal Danneels were illegal claims lawyer

"Huiszoekingen bij kardinaal Danneels waren onwettelijk" - HLN.be

After the judgment of the Supreme Court, it is now definitely established that the raids on 24 June 2010 which were made on the Archbishop's Palace, and on Cardinal Danneels obtained material illegally says Fernand Keuleneer, lawyer for the Archdiocese and Cardinal, commenting on the judgment.

The raids of June 24, 2010 within the context of Operation Chalice by the judicial inquiry that the investigating magistrate in Brussels, Wim De Troy alleged sexual abuse of children and a possible cover-up on the matters within the Catholic Church. "This judgment finally has confirmed what we have been insisting already since June 25 2010, that the Investigating Court undertook an illegal and arbitrary operation," says Keuleneer. "The searches and seizures of the Adriaenssens Commission in Leuven/Louvain have already been annulled." The Brussels High Court will now again have to decide whether the documents that were seized must be removed from the file. "As repeatedly stated, these documents are useless for investigation", the lawyer continued, "and indeed has be understood for a long time. Basically, however, we find that it cannot be the case that a investigating magistrate can collect anything in an illegal manner. An investigation must be conducted in a legally correct manner. Otherwise we end up in a situation where a robbery, while prohibited, can result in the robber keeping the spoils. That's not good for the rule of law."

Cathcon- seems that Danneels' lawyer has in one sense advanced but also suffered a setback, as the way is now open for the use of the documents obtained in the raid.

New court ruling endangers Cardinal Danneels

Le Quotidien - Belgique/Pédophilie : l'enquête rebondit

A court ruling has revived yesterday the investigation into the pedophile scandal involving the Belgian Church.

The highest court yesterday gave a boost to investigators seeking to determine whether or not the Catholic Church or is not guilty of covering up pedophilia scandals by taking back a decision that had invalidated an important part of the prosecutor's case. In a new twist to this very complex issue, the Court of Cassation quashed the decision of 29 November by the Chamber of Indictment in Brussels, whic had declared null and void seizures made June 24, 2010 at the headquarters of the Church of Belgium, the Archdiocese of Mechelen (north of Brussels), and the home of the former primate of Belgium, Cardinal Godfried Danneels. According to the ruling made last November, all items seized during the searches were being returned to their owners. And all elements of the prosecutors' case based on these articles of evidence should be invalidated. The court ruled that the police operation named "Chalice" was disproportionate. Yesterday, the General Prosecutor of the Supreme Court however held that the decision to invalidate the search was not sufficiently justified, as the Church's lawyers had demanded confirmation of the decision. The Supreme Court has finally rendered null the invalidation procedure, said the office of the highest Belgian court, quoted by the Belga news agency, without specifying what aspects of the judgment had been canceled. The Registry, however, said the Chamber of Indictment, composed of different judges, should decide again. Without the documents seized during the spectacular searches , the investigation of pedophilia in the Belgian Church was reduced to a trickle. In June 2010, Operation Chalice was a sensation and caused outrage in the Vatican. It was triggered after the forced resignation two months ago of the Bishop of Bruges, Roger Vangheluwe, who admitted to having over a long period of time abused his nephew, a minor in the 1980s.

Cathcon- caveat- Danneels' lawyer is claiming the reverse but seems on an initial read, he is just trying to manoevre in a desperate situation. Of course, whether this affects the long-term outcome depends on the detail of the judgement.

See all here for the background- especially article about Danneels' lawyer going ballistic.

Magistrate investigating child abuse in Belgian Church leaves post

Colette Callewaert volgt Wim De Troy op - De Standaard

The investigating magistrate in Brussels Colette Callewaert takes over the investigation into abuse within the Church from Wim De Troy. The President of the Court in Brussels has decided this. de Troy stood down last month. Reported by VRT (the TV channel).

Two weeks ago, de Troy knew Justice Minister Annemie Turtelboom refused to renew his mandate, which ended March 31.

de Troy raided in the summer of 2010 the Archbishop's palace in Mechelen, took the computer from Cardinal Danneels and took into custody from the Adriaenssens Commission the dossiers on hundreds of pedophile priests.

The investigation was hindered and turned into a battle about the procedure or non-validity of a number of searches and investigation activities. When De Troy was told that his faithful clerk Peggy Coppens would not be allowed to return after her maternity leave, this was too much for the investigating judge.

Investigating Judge Callewaert at end of 2010 had been for a few months in charge of the judicial inquiry after two legal complaints were made against de Troy. They claimed during the judicial inquiry that there had been breach of professional secrecy after various elements of Operation Chalice surfaced in the press.

Cathcon: only time will tell if these are deliberate manoeuvres to close down the investigation- the Justice Minister is a Flemish liberal, who will therefore stand in a long anti-clerical tradition. Five years ago, Justice Callewaert was responsible for investigating one of the leading figures of the VLD for corruption.

Georg Ratzinger- new book in English on his brother.

All the numerous Cathcon posts on Catholic Church Conservation: Georg Ratzinger- not least among them, Pope's Brother slams Cardinal Danneels. I don't think it is a speculation too far to say that the previous Pope was informed by the then Cardinal Ratzinger, about the sewer of immorality and cover-up which was being presided over by Cardinal Danneels in Belgium, which led to the appointment of Cardinal Joos, seminary friend of Pope John Paul II, who although a humble parish priest, was also a leading canon lawyer and head of the Diocesan tribunal in Ghent. I think the intention was that he was going to take a leading role in clearing up the scandal when it broke, but by the time it broke he was already dead.

Cardinal Danneels was much beloved in Belgium before the scandal broke, and preferred by the people to Cardinal Joos as can be seen from the second link.   They do not think that now. 

Belgian police raid every diocese in the country

Belgique : nouvelles perquisitions dans des évêchés wallons | La-Croix.com:

'via Blog this'

Apologies- late breaking news- only just back online.

Belgium: new searches of Walloon bishoprics

After a series of searches in the Flemish bishoprics on Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 January, it was the turn of the Walloon Dioceses of Tournai and Namur to be raided on Wednesday by the Belgian Federal Police, under the leadership of the Brussels Investigating Magistrate, Wim De Troy.

Each time the police took away the "personal files" of priests whose names appear in about 200 testimonies from victims and 87 legal complaints in the possession of Judge De Troy.

"We are at an important phase of Operation Chalice," the name given to the investigation which has been undermining the Belgian Church since the spring of 2010, said one of the magistrates and spokesman for the federal prosecution service, Lieve Pellens . "We are looking for fundamental material," she added.

BISHOP VANGHELUWE PARTICULARLY TARGETED

Judge De Troy is not trying to find evidence against pedophile priests, a task which is the responsibility of local prosecutors, but to see whether their superiors showed themselves "culpable" in failing to act or protecting abusers when they were informed of these facts.

The former bishop of Bruges, Monsignor Roger Vangheluwe, who resigned in April 2010 after admitting sexual abuse of a nephew, who was a minor, in the 1980s, was especially cited by de Troy, according to the Flemish newspaper De Standaard . The former bishop, who has fled abroad to an undisclosed location, cannot be prosecuted for acts he himself has committed, as he is now protected by the statute of limitation.

But according to De Standaard, he has until recently protected the priests of his diocese, even to the extent of sending small sums of money to an alleged victim and threatening "consequences" if she spoke.

Desperate to make history with the investigation

The Belgian Church hoped to have turned the corner last week by launching a public information campaign, setting up a network for victims and with the statement that all cases of sexual abuse are to be systematically sent to the court authorities. Last December, it had already agreed to offer compensation of between 2500 and 25000 euro to victims of sexual crimes prescribed by law.

"We have no objection at all to when justice does its job as long as judicial norms are met. This time, the method of search is more normal and investigators have behaved in a more correct manner", confided Ferdinand Keuleneer , counsel for the Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels to La Croix.

Recalling that the Church authorities have pledged to cooperate fully with the ongoing criminal investigation, he was surprised, however, by the need for a spectacular new operation and placed the matter on public record when he said "the Church of Belgium would certainly forwarded these records to the court if the latter had asked him."

"The Church authorities have recognized clearly that the structures of the past were neither appropriate nor effective in the fight against pedophilia, but it is another thing to want to demonstrate that there was failure to assist persons in danger. Wim De Troy seems to be desperate to make history with the investigation", he said in criticism to La Libre Belgique .

Vatican taken to court by Belgian abuse victims

Belgische slachtoffers misbruik naar rechter | nu.nl/buitenland | Het laatste nieuws het eerst op nu.nl:

Belgian court to abuse victims

Published: June 1, 2011 6:02 p.m.

Last edited: June 1, 2011 6:22 p.m.

BRUSSELS - A group of seventy victims of sexual abuse in Belgium announced on Wednesday that it is taking legal action against the Catholic Church. They want to obtain damages.

The lawyers of the victims will mount a group action in September against the Holy See in Rome, the Belgian bishops and the superiors of religious orders.

Earlier this week the Belgian bishops announced compensation for all persons who have been sexually abused by clergy.

An arbitration board will be estabished. But the victims have started their legal action anyway because they want to remain vigilant, says one of their lawyers.

Vangheluwe

Belgium last year was repeatedly shaken by reports of sexual abuse by church officials. Especially the affair of the bishop of Bruges Roger Vangheluwe caused a stir.

Vangheluwe stepped down last year after he had confessed to abusing for years a nephew who was a minor. The former Bishop, who is now the charge of the Vatican left Belgium after a second case of abuse later emerged.

Related articles

• Belgian plaintiffs to sue Vatican (bbc.co.uk)
• Belgium child sex victims sue Holy See (expatica.com)

Vatican accused in Belgium

Les victimes d'abus sexuels assigneront le Vatican à Bruxelles - RTL info

Victims of sexual abuse within the church want to take the Vatican to court in Brussels, said Wednesday the lawyer, Walter Van Steenbrugge, who with his fellow lawyer, Christine Mussche represents some 75 victims.

The victims complain about the Vatican's negligent conduct and their lack of reaction to the announcement of sexual abuse. Mr. Van Steenbrugge will make a legal complaint about the Vatican in Brussels, which is where the investigative judge Wim De Troy is inquiring into acts of non-assistance to persons in danger associated with the sexual abuse occurred within the Church. Walter Van Steenbrugge also is focusing on people in Belgium, but he will not reveal their identity. The victims will know themselves in the middle of May, after the introduction of the complaint. (VIM)

Row breaks out in Belgium over Blessed Pope John Paul II

The acting Deputy Prime Minister, Laurette Onkelinx has attacked the acting Prime Minister, Yves Leterme for attending the beatification of Blessed Pope John Paul II.

She cannot understand why he is attending as Archbishop Leonard has not accepted any sense of ecclesiastical responsibility for the sexual abuse scandals in the Belgium church, especially given the financial support that the church receives from the state.

She is a socialist, so has an axe to grind even if there had been no scandal. The only party that is more hostile to the church is the Greens- and that is true across Europe generally.

Belgium has not had a real government for almost a year, as coalition negotiations have yielded nothing since the last general election on 13 June 2010.

She has not, however, attacked the Belgium King Albert II who was also present at the beatification this morning- he still retains significant powers in the formation of governments. But it was the King who asked the Prime Minister to accompany him. The distinction is drawn by LeSoir, one of the main Belgian dailies, between the elevation of Pope Benedict XVI and what is considered a purely religious ceremony.