A visit to the Flemish Catholic University of Leuven and an unexpected detour to the facilities of an institution of nuns that care for the elderly in a working-class neighborhood of Brussels did not overshadow, on Friday, September 27, the central theme of the three-day visit from Pope Francis to Belgium: sexual violence within the Catholic Church. Luc Sels, rector of the University of Louvain, in the speech he addressed to the head of this Church, considered that “ “The impact caused by sexual violence and the way it has been discussed and judged in the past weakens the moral authority with which the Church can express itself.”
In the morning, the sovereign pontiff was invited by King Philip to deliver an “address to the nation” whose very principle had been denounced by secular circles and left-wing elected officials, who saw it as a departure from the principle of separation. of the Church and the State. This controversy quickly gave way to questions about the exact scope of the Pope’s statements on the scandals that have marked the history of the Belgian Church for three decades.
In his speech, King Philip cautiously alluded to events that would have affected some 2,000 people in total, according to figures provided by Rik Devillé, a retired priest who grouped victims of abuse. The Head of State deplored the fact that “horribly bruised and scarred for life” and it was necessary “So long for their cries to be heard and acknowledged.”
The resigned prime minister, Alexander De Croo, a Flemish liberal, had harsher words. Emphasizing that the Church undoubtedly had its place” in our history and our culture »The head of government added: “But we cannot ignore the painful wounds that exist within the Catholic religious community and society as a whole. “The numerous cases of sexual abuse and forced adoptions have seriously damaged trust.” Mr. De Croo insisted: “Today words are no longer enough, we must take concrete actions. Victims have the right to the truth. “Justice must be done.”
“Too little, too late”
This firmness visibly pushed the Pope to leave the text transmitted to the press, which differs little from the statements made previously by Francis on the subject. If the Belgian clergy have generally refused to qualify for anything more than “sins” abuses committed by prelates, the Pope spoke this time of “crimes” therefore, judge, “The Church must be ashamed and ask for forgiveness.” He highlighted that “most abuses” occur ” in the family, in the neighborhoods, in sports » but that a single case within the Church should raise “pity” of it. In 2010, André-Joseph Léonard, then primate of Belgium, had already insisted that “all areas of life” According to him, they were faced with the issue of abuse.
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