Police raid home of ex-Belgian archbishop
Source: Agencies |
June 25, 2010, Friday
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POLICE raided the home and office of the recently retired archbishop of Belgium yesterday, carrying off documents and a personal computer as part of an investigation into the sexual abuse of children by Roman Catholic priests, officials said.
Police and prosecutors would not say whether former Archbishop Godfried Danneels was suspected of abuse himself or simply had records pertaining to allegations against another person.
The raids followed recent statements to police "that are related to the sexual abuse of children within the church," said Jean-Marc Meilleur, a spokesman for the Brussels prosecutor's office.
Police took documents but did not question Danneels at his home in the city of Mechlin, just north of Brussels, said Hans Geybels, the spokesman for the former archbishop.
"They did take away his computer," he said.
Geybels added Danneels was fully cooperating.
"The cardinal believes justice must run its normal course. He has nothing against that," he said.
Danneels was a leading liberal voice in Europe's church before he retired in January.
But he returned to the limelight when, on April 26, Belgium's longest-serving bishop, Roger Vangheluwe, resigned after admitting to having sexually abused a young boy during the time when Danneels was archbishop.
Yesterday, police also searched the office of a committee that, with the help of the Catholic church, is investigating sexual abuse claims by Roman Catholic priests.
The sex abuse scandal has engulfed the church in Europe - and beyond - for months, with reports of abuse in seminars, schools and other church-run institutions. Reports that priests have abused children or bishops have covered up for them have outraged the faithful.
Police and prosecutors would not say whether former Archbishop Godfried Danneels was suspected of abuse himself or simply had records pertaining to allegations against another person.
The raids followed recent statements to police "that are related to the sexual abuse of children within the church," said Jean-Marc Meilleur, a spokesman for the Brussels prosecutor's office.
Police took documents but did not question Danneels at his home in the city of Mechlin, just north of Brussels, said Hans Geybels, the spokesman for the former archbishop.
"They did take away his computer," he said.
Geybels added Danneels was fully cooperating.
"The cardinal believes justice must run its normal course. He has nothing against that," he said.
Danneels was a leading liberal voice in Europe's church before he retired in January.
But he returned to the limelight when, on April 26, Belgium's longest-serving bishop, Roger Vangheluwe, resigned after admitting to having sexually abused a young boy during the time when Danneels was archbishop.
Yesterday, police also searched the office of a committee that, with the help of the Catholic church, is investigating sexual abuse claims by Roman Catholic priests.
The sex abuse scandal has engulfed the church in Europe - and beyond - for months, with reports of abuse in seminars, schools and other church-run institutions. Reports that priests have abused children or bishops have covered up for them have outraged the faithful.
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