Channel 4 News
June 24, 2010
http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/police+raid+church+offices+in+child+abuse+probe/3690892
Police investigating child abuse allegations searched the raided the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church in Belguim as Channel 4 News is told they may have been looking for files compiled into alleged abuse.
Police investigating allegations of child abuse have searched premises linked to the two most senior Catholic clerics in Belgium.
Uniformed officers stood guard as plain clothed detectives entered the church's headquarters near Brussels. It's also the base of the Archbishop of Brussels, Andre-Joseph Leonard.
The home of the former head of the Catholic Church, Archbishop Godfried Danneels was also searched. He retired in January after holding the position since 1979. Documents and his computer were taken away by police.
In a third operation police in the city of Leuven searched the office of the church commission set up to investigate complaints of abuse.
Spokesman for the Brussels Prosecutor's Office, Jean-Marc Meilleur said, "Raids were carried out in connection with a dossier, related to statements we have received about possible sexual abuse of children, allegedly committed by people within the church. The aim of the raids is to find evidence. This is a new dossier that we received recently."
He said several clerics were implicated but gave no names.
The news editor of the Catholic Tablet newspaper, Christopher Lamb told Channel 4 News it was highly unusual for police to search church premises. He believes they could have been looking for confidential files compiled by the catholic church into allegations of child abuse.
Bishops were actually in a meeting at the church's headquarters in Mechelen, a town outside the Belgian capital when the police raid took place.
In a statement the church said the current Archbishop, Andre-Joseph Leonard, 'has always been clear in saying that there must be a zero-tolerance in matters of sexual abuse.'
The allegations emerged after a Belgian bishop resigned in April after admitting he had sexually abused a boy over several years.
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Roger Vangheluwe issued a statement saying:
"When I was not yet bishop, and for a while later, I sexually abused a youth in my close entourage. The victim is still affected. During the last ten years I have told him, several times, that I recognise my wrongdoing towards him, as well as to his family. I asked forgiveness but this did not appease him or me."
In a highly unusual move the catholic church held a press conference following the resignation. "As far as we know and based on the information we received, no one knew about it," Archbishop Leonard told journalists.
Close to tears he added: "We, his brothers, are aware of the crisis in confidence which his resignation will provoke for many people. However we dare to hope that wisdom will prevail and that the bishops, and in particular the priests in this country will not be globally and unfairly discredited."
But a former priest claimed he'd warned the former Archbishop Godfried Danneels about Vangheluwe 15 years ago. The Archbishop said he couldn't remember such a discussion.
The Belgian church commission is currently investigating 120 allegations of abuse but says it expects that number to double.
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