This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/10403961.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Belgian Catholic offices raided | Belgian Catholic offices raided |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Officials said they were searching for evidence of possible abuse | Officials said they were searching for evidence of possible abuse |
| Belgian authorities have raided the headquarters of the Belgian Catholic Church during an investigation into child sex abuse claims. | |
| A spokesman for the Brussels prosecutors' office confirmed that the palace of the Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels had been sealed off. | A spokesman for the Brussels prosecutors' office confirmed that the palace of the Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels had been sealed off. |
| Officials were searching for evidence concerning abuse allegations, he said. | Officials were searching for evidence concerning abuse allegations, he said. |
| Belgium is one of several countries in which a stream of abuse claims have shaken the Roman Catholic Church. | Belgium is one of several countries in which a stream of abuse claims have shaken the Roman Catholic Church. |
| A prosecutors' spokesman told AFP that prosecutors had "been informed of accusations denouncing abuse of minors committed by a certain number of Church figures". | |
| An inquiry into child sex abuse in the Catholic Church in Belgium has been running for several years. | An inquiry into child sex abuse in the Catholic Church in Belgium has been running for several years. |
| Papal pledge | |
| In April, the then-bishop of the Belgian city of Bruges, Roger Vangheluwe, resigned after admitting that he had sexually abused a boy earlier in his career. | In April, the then-bishop of the Belgian city of Bruges, Roger Vangheluwe, resigned after admitting that he had sexually abused a boy earlier in his career. |
| At the time, Archbishop Andre-Joseph Leonard said the move showed that the Church wanted to "resolutely turn a page on a very painful" topic. | At the time, Archbishop Andre-Joseph Leonard said the move showed that the Church wanted to "resolutely turn a page on a very painful" topic. |
| In recent months, allegations of abuse levelled against Catholic priests have surfaced in many countries. | |
| There have also been accusations that Church authorities in Europe and North and South America failed to deal with cases openly or properly. | |
| Pope Benedict XVI himself has been accused of being part of a culture of secrecy, and of not taking strong enough steps against abusers when he had that responsibility as a cardinal in Rome. | |
| However, his supporters say he has been the most pro-active pope yet in confronting abuse. | |
| The Pope pledged in April to "bring to justice" Church officials responsible for abuse. | |
| The Vatican also made it explicit that sex abuse cases should be reported to police if required by law. |