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Belgian Catholic offices raided | Belgian Catholic offices raided |
(about 4 hours 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. | |
Police 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 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. | |
"The object of the searches is to verify the declaration and eventually gather evidence about these declarations." | |
Tapping on boards | Tapping on boards |
At the home of Archbishop Danneels in Mechelen, just north of Brussels, police did not question the cleric but took away his computer, according to his spokesman, Hans Geybels. | |
Mr Geybels said police had also asked the archbishop 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." | 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 were also raided. | |
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. |
In April, the then-bishop of the 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 | 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. |