Ex-bishop in Belgian abuse scandal goes to hiding

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Ex-bishop in Belgian abuse scandal goes to hiding
The Associated Press
Saturday, September 11, 2010; 6:45 AM

BRUSSELS -- The former Belgian bishop who resigned in April after admitting he sexually abused a nephew for years says he will go into hiding to assess his future, despite calls for him to leave the church immediately.

Roger Vangheluwe said in a statement he would go "somewhere hidden" away from an abbey in his bishopry of Bruges, where he has been staying since his April 23 resignation.

His April admission triggered crisis in the Belgian Roman Catholic Church. On Friday, a commission presented a report of hundreds of sex abuse victims over the past half century with harrowing accounts of molestation by Catholic clergy that reportedly led to at least 13 suicides.

Vangheluwe again admitted guilt and asked for forgiveness "to our church, to society, and all people marked by the suffering."




Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/11/AR2010091101684.html

[madmom]

1. WHY is he not going to prison?

[Heywood J]

2. 5th rec for you.

Further proof that the Catholic church is still sheltering pedophiles. If the church had any decency, he would be booted into the hands of police and excommunicated for abuse of authority.

[defendandprotect]

3. Thanks -- this continuing saga needs a lot of attention . . ..

much of this is new abuse -- happening in the last 10 years!

Where has the church been in protecting children?

[Iowa]

4. K&R