Belgian Leaders Call Out Pope Over Church’s Handling of Sex Abuse Scandals

This past Friday, Belgium’s Prime Minister Alexander De Croo took a bold step, openly criticizing Pope Francis over the Catholic Church’s handling of clerical sex abuse cases. During a visit timed with the celebration of Leuven and Louvain-la-Neuve’s 600th anniversary, De Croo emphasized the need for concrete actions from the Church to genuinely prioritize survivors and confront its failings.

Amid escalating concerns regarding child sex abuse allegations in Belgium, De Croo stated, “Survivors need to be heard. They have a right to truth,” at a gathering at Laeken Castle in Brussels, where the royal family resides. He added, “When something goes wrong, we cannot accept cover-ups.” King Philippe also pressed for the Church to earnestly atone for its transgressions and assist in the healing process for survivors.

De Croo’s remarks, notably articulated in Flemish, drew attention to the seriousness of the abuse situation, particularly in the Flanders region. His address marked a departure from the usual Vatican protocol, where only the king typically speaks to the pope. This time, however, De Croo’s office insisted he make a statement reflecting the nation’s anguish over the decades-old scandal.

The abuse allegations surged into the public eye in 2010 when Bruges Bishop Roger Vangheluwe confessed to abusing his nephew for 13 years. Following this revelation, another Church leader was recorded advising the victim to remain silent until Vangheluwe’s retirement. Although Vangheluwe resigned, he faced no immediate consequences—only recently was he defrocked by the pope.

“Today, words alone do not suffice. We also need concrete steps,” De Croo remarked to an audience comprising dignitaries, church authorities, and politicians.

Pope Francis acknowledged the Church’s accountability, expressing that “this is our shame and humiliation” in an off-the-cuff comment during the event. He is set to meet privately with 15 abuse survivors during his visit; however, these individuals are calling for more comprehensive reparations and support for their ongoing struggles.

A 2010 report revealed 507 instances of abuse within the Belgian Church, with victims as young as two years old. Sadly, at least 13 victims have reportedly taken their own lives, yet advocates fear the actual number could be much higher. Additional scrutiny lies on a separate scandal involving forced adoptions between the 1940s and 1980s, where the Church pressured single mothers to relinquish their babies, affecting approximately 30,000 individuals.

Both De Croo and King Philippe alluded to the forced adoptions in their speeches, urging the Church to strive for clarity and justice. Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt denounced these actions as “horror practices by the Church.” In response, Pope Francis showed remorse, linking such maneuvers to past societal attitudes.

The public’s anger has been reignited, especially following the controversial 2022 documentary Godvergeten (Godforsaken), which shed new light on the Church’s cover-ups. Co-creator Ingrid Schildermans’ work depicted the painful cycle of hope and disillusionment faced by survivors, leading to inquests in both the Flanders and national Parliaments. An upcoming investigation aims to assess whether external factors played a role in the breakdown of prior criminal investigations, with Schildermans stating, “We put all the things that happened on a timeline, so that (the Church) couldn’t say, ‘It’s one rotten apple.’”

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.