BRUSSELS, Belgium – Pope Francis has expelled from the priesthood a disgraced former Belgian bishop who admitted greater than a decade in the past to sexually abusing two nephews, the Belgian church mentioned on Thursday.
Roger Vangheluwe, 87, resigned as Bishop of Bruges in 2010 after admitting he had abused one nephew for 13 years. A yr later, he admitted to abusing a second nephew, whereas saying he didn’t take into account himself a pedophile.
Belgian prosecutors mentioned on the time that the abuse had taken place too way back for Vangheluwe to be charged. The justice minister urged the Vatican to impose a stiff punishment on him.
The Belgian Catholic Church mentioned on Thursday that the pope had eliminated Vangheluwe’s clerical standing. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo mentioned the Belgian authorities had urged the Vatican to behave rapidly.
“This is the right decision. It comes late but is a necessary step for the victims in their search for justice,” he mentioned on social media platform X.
The Belgian Church mentioned its bishops had repeatedly requested that Vangheluwe be expelled and regarded it “shameful” that he formally remained a bishop and priest, albeit underneath tight restrictions.
The church mentioned he would stay within the abbey that at present homes him and reside in isolation.
The Roman Catholic Church has been rattled to the core by clergy sexual abuse scandals around the globe. Pope Francis has tried to impose order, however his critics say extra ought to have been executed to root out abusive clergy and assist their many victims. — Reuters
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
