BishopAccountability.org
	Belgian Church and State in Clash on Abuse By Stanley Pignal Financial Times June 29, 2010 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/043d02d2-831c-11df-8b15-00144feabdc0.html The stand-off between the Belgian Catholic church and state amid the scandal over child abuse by priests intensified yesterday following a recent series of police raids on church property. The church's attempt to deal internally with the allegations collapsed after the independent commission it had asked to look into the matter yesterday collectively resigned in protest at the confiscation of its records during last week's raids. Belgium is particularly sensitive to child abuse after the arrest in 1996 of Marc Dutroux, who had molested and murdered six young girls. The ensuing investigation, coupled with Dutroux's subsequent prison escape, forced the resignation of Stefaan De Clerck, the then-minister of justice, two years later.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.