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Belgian Catholic offices raided | Belgian Catholic offices raided |
(41 minutes 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. | 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. |
Police have also raided the home of retired archbishop Godfried Danneels. | |
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. |
Brussels prosecutors were looking for material relating to allegations of sex abuse, a spokesman for the prosecutors' office said. | Brussels prosecutors were looking for material relating to allegations of sex abuse, a spokesman for the prosecutors' office said. |
"This is a case that the Brussels prosecutors' office received recently, containing a statement of facts in relation to alleged sexual abuse of minors by a number of people within the church," said Jean-Marc Meilleur. | "This is a case that the Brussels prosecutors' office received recently, containing a statement of facts in relation to alleged sexual abuse of minors by a number of people within the church," said Jean-Marc Meilleur. |
"The object of the searches is to verify the declaration and eventually gather evidence about these declarations," he added. | "The object of the searches is to verify the declaration and eventually gather evidence about these declarations," he added. |
Tapping on boards | |
At the home of retired Archbishop Godfried Danneels in Mechelen, just north of Brussels, police did not question the archbishop but took away his computer, according to his spokesman, Hans Geybels. | |
Mr Geybels said police had also asked Archbishop Danneels to accompany them to the cathedral in Mechelen because they had heard that there might be files there. | |
He said the officers were tapping on boards and looking for hidden spaces, but as far as he was aware, they had not found anything. | |
He said Cardinal Danneels was co-operating fully: "The cardinal believes justice must run its normal course. He has nothing against that." | |
Separately, the offices of an independent commission set up to look into cases of sexual abuse have also been raided. | Separately, the offices of an independent commission set up to look into cases of sexual abuse have also been raided. |
An inquiry into child sex abuse in the Catholic Church in Belgium has been running for several years. | |
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. |
Papal pledge | |
In recent months, allegations of abuse levelled against Catholic priests have surfaced in many countries. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | The Vatican also made it explicit that sex abuse cases should be reported to police if required by law. |