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."

Voluntary laicisation for Bishop of Bruges?

Canonist and Christian Democrat Senator Rik Torfs has suggested the Bishop asks for laicisation to save the church further humiliation and the Pope from having to demand it. He would also save the Belgian state some money because they hopefully would not have to pay his pension.

He dressed as a layman even when he was a Bishop.

Danneels admits to serious mistakes

De Standaard Online - Danneels erkent dat hij ontslag Vangheluwe had moeten eisen

Cardinal Godfried Danneels realizes that he ought have immediately urged Bishop Vangheluwe to resign. He says not doing so his "most serious error of assessment".

He says this in an interview which appears tomorrow morning in Knack. It is the first time the Cardinal has given an interview about the Vangheluwe case.

From the conversations with the victim of the bishop of Bruges which Danneels had, published in The Standard, it appeared that he was not asked to resign. He has always denied that he wanted to cover-up the abuse by Bishop Vangheluwe.

"It was for me in the first place about reconciliation within the family," he says now Knack. "I thought, wrongly, that the family had kept the case private for 24 years , so also wanted to keep it that way."

"That's why I suggested waiting another year until the bishop retired. When there was no immediate explosion, then I have indeed said that something can be forgiven. "

Pastoral approach

Resignation was a "consequence" of that reconciliation, he says now. "But as I suspected dissension within the family, I thought of adopting a pastoral approach."

Danneels denies that he has treated the victim arrogantly. The greeting "Zeg ne keer" (thought patronising) is a common greeting in West Flanders.

"Later in the conversation, I actually told the victim said that I did not wish to hear the story, because I knew the facts. And that was wrong. I should have let him tell the story, however long it lasted. "

Danneels regrets that the conversation ever took place. "I did not go into his (Vangheluwes, ed.) demand for me to meet the family. What Vangheluwe hoped to achieve with this meeting, I can only guess. "

The Double Standard of Cardinal Danneels

On matters of faith, the local bishop knows better than the Pope himself.


"Accusations are made directly to Rome about theologians from persons who are not theologians. Some of these accusations are anonymous. The local bishop should be the one to relate to theologians to determine orthodoxy. "

But when he as the Head of the Belgium Church had to deal with an utterly immoral bishop, it was more than his job was worth to intervene and said it was the Pope's responsibility.

Did Danneels keep the Vatican in the dark about the Bishop of Bruges?

Judgment day for Cardinal Danneels

The Court of Indictment met today for an hour to decide on the legality of the raids on the Belgian Church. Their judgement will be delivered on 13th August.

Seperately, it has become clear that the former Bishop of Bruges paid large sums to the family of his known victim- it seems it had the effect of buying their silence.

Child abusing bishop mocked in obscene children's circus

Politie bij eerste voorstelling 'Circus Vangheluwe' - Hbvl.be

The public prosecutor of Gent sends representatives to the first Sunday performance of "Circus Vangheluwe" at the Ghent Festival, said their spokesperson, Annemie Serlippens.

At the show, which is provided by comedians Gunter Lamoot and Peter De Praitere, only children less than 1.35 meters are welcome. They need first to crawl underthe legs of a wooden image of Roger Vangheluwe, who resigned as bishop of Bruges because he had abused a child.

After the protest in the media on Friday, the prosecutor and mayor Daniel Termont consulted. They found the presence of representatives of the prosecutors office not a bad idea. "If necessary, they will intervene, but we have faith in the common sense of the two comedians," said Serlippens.

"Painful"

The Art of Children organization, The National Youth Choir of Belgium and the Classics for Kids organization groups, has already complained on Saturday about the circus. "This initiative is offensive, shocking and painful," said chairman Tim Devolder. "Cirq has done wonderful performances in recent years, but this goes too far."

Cardinal Danneels receives standing ovation

At the induction of the new Bishop of Bruges, Josef de Kezel, in succession to the child abuser, Roger Vangheluwe. 1500 people attended in the Cathedral Church of the Holy Saviour. De Kezel is a protegee of Cardinal Danneels, having been his auxilliary for eight of the latter's 31 years in Brussels.

Cathcon believes that they had better save the applause until the magistrates have finished their work.

Investigators suspect more victims of the Bishop of Bruges

HLN Belgie- Parket vermoedt meer slachtoffers Vangheluwe (1130911)

Bruges investigating magistrates have broadened the investigation against former Bishop Roger Vangheluwe. There are still indications that he had more than one victim, said attorney Jean-Marie Berkvens on Friday morning . The ex-bishop is risking a prosecution for gross negligence.

In the weeks following the removal from office, some media have reported Vangheluwe about a possible second victim, and a suicide in the family Could be related to sexual abuse by the bishop. The Bruges prosecutor refused to confirm the reports, but has decided to take matters further.

"Reports of other facts"
"The first acts are under the statute of limitations, that's obvious, but we are now investigating reports that there have been other acts," says attorney Berkvens. The ongoing investigation was initially focused on a specific case, but has gradually expanded. We now are in possession in possession of documents sent by intermediaries and have examined a computer. "

The question also arises how Vangheluwe as bishop himself has responded to reports of sexual abuse. "We are investigating whether the former bishop can be prosecuted for ignoring years of complaints about sexual abuse in his diocese. The name of Cardinal Danneels also comes up," says the investigating attorney.

Cathcon- this potentially could get quite serious for the Cardinal. The former Bishop of Bruges was a good friend. Even if he knew about the first case, he could not be charged because the statute of limitations would also cover him- but if there is a more recent case and he knew something, then that is a different matter.

His claims that he knew nothing are greeted with incredulity by family members of victims who went to see him with their concerns. He at the time dismissed what he was told.

Latin Mass every month

in the Basilica of the Holy Blood in Bruges.

 

"Welsh is the language of my people"

"But Latin is the language of my Church." Saunders Lewis, the founder of the Welsh Nationalists, in a letter to Michael Davies, the traditionalist author.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Cardigan, to which the Latin Mass Society makes pilgrimage.

In contrast, the Bishop of Brugge/ Bruges in Belgium said after the Council that now the Mass was in the Flemish language, they wanted their own country of Flanders as well.

The English Convent in Bruges

lives yet.

Where are such nuns to be found?

A pioneer of nursing in the 19th century, she made her first Communion in the English Convent in Bruges.

Latin Mass on the altar where the Relic of the Precious Blood is kept in Bruges

Cathcon was not there- but knows people that were.

Latin Mass in honour of the Precious Blood

In the Basilica of the Holy Blood in Bruges.

An unforgettable medieval evening

in a disused Church in Bruges once the most Catholic city in Europe.

Madonna of the Dry Tree.

Petrus Christus, the artist and his wife were the members of the Brotherhood of Madonna of the Dry Tree, a religious society in Bruges, which was engaged in charity and were devoted to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin. The society existed from 1396 and united aristocracy and clergy. This small painting was most probably a home altarpiece of a society member. This depiction was illustrating the verse by the Prophet Ezekiel (17:24)

“All the trees of the countryside will know that it is I, the Lord, who bring low the tall tree and raise the lowly tree high, who shrived up the green tree and make the shriveled tree put forth buds. I, the Lord, have spoken; I shall do it.”

These verses were interpreted in the medieval theology, as indication at barren St. Anna, who gave birth to St. Maria. The golden ‘A’ letters, which hang among the dry branches, symbolized 15 times Ave Maria. The work was painted between 1460-1473.

Female extraordinary minister handles the very Blood of Christ

In Bruges, Belgium, a relic of the Blood of Christ is kept, which survived the French Revolution by being buried in the walls of a Carmelite Monastery.

The relic is still regularly venerated, as can be seen from the video, which can be seen along with my pictures of the Annual Procession of the Holy Blood and below pictures of a veneration.

Normally, a priest carries one of the most precious relics of Christendom, but sometimes a Member of the Ancient and Noble Confraternity of the Holy Blood is allowed the privilege.

Being in Bruges on Saturday, we made it to the Basilica of the Holy Blood in time for the veneration.

The extent of my horror can only be imagined when the priest came out of the sacristy, followed by a female extraordinary minister of the Eucharist, bearing the relic. They processed to the special platform built for the veneration, the priest saying a few prayers before the woman raised the relic, as a blessing for the congregation, and then presided as the congregation came forward for their personal veneration.

The priest, who can only just be seen in these pictures (sorry, about the poor quality- borrowed a friends camera) sat idly by. Here the woman is holding up the relics, which can just be seen.


The woman was wearing the pseudo-priestly robes that have been so often highlighted on Cathcon.





Will post shortly details of how to protest this outrage.

Alien image of Our Lady in Bruges, Belgium

Click to see many others alien images of Our Lord

The Great Escape.

Following her springing of her husband, Lord Nithsdale from the Tower of London, Lady Nithsdale was described by King George as having done him "more mischief than any woman in Christendom". This is the altar that was erected in the English Convent in Bruges by friends to honour the Great Escape. It is no longer used, rather a recently made table.

Coming soon!

Pictures of the procession of Our Lord's Most Precious Blood in Bruges