Victims demand trial in Rome of cardinal, archbishop and bishops

Victims of abuse in the Church have asked the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith to bring Cardinal Danneels and Archbishop Léonard among others before the special new tribunal which should examine negligent priests.

Pope Francis announced in early June the establishment of a tribunal, under the auspices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The tribunal should interview bishops who would have been remiss in addressing cases of pedophile priests.

An investigation shows that in Belgium several victims wrote to Rome asking for Archbishop André-Joseph Léonard, Cardinal Godfried Danneels, former Bishop of Bruges, Roger Vangheluwe and the Bishop of Hasselt, Patrick Hoogmartens to be tried. They wrote a personal letter on this matter to Cardinal Müller, who is the head of the Congregation.

Léonard is internationally one of the few bishops who have been held liable in a case of sexual abuse. But that certainly does not mean that he certainly will have to appear before the tribunal in Rome, said canon lawyers, Rik Torfs and Kurt Martens.

The Vatican spokesman would not confirm whether the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has already received files on the Belgian bishops.

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