Vatican Dismay Over Breach of Victims Privacy in Belgium
(25 Jun 10 – RV) Below is the English translation of the text of the Declaration
issued by the Spokesman of the Belgian Bishops' Conference, after a police search
of the residence of the Archbishop of Malines-Brussels, on 24 June.
* * *
The bishops of Belgium were gathered at the residence of the Archbishop of
Malines-Brussels at about 10.30 this morning for the monthly meeting of the Episcopal
Conference. At about 10:30, police and court officials entered and referred that there
would be a search of the archdiocese, following complaints of sexual abuse within
the territory of the archdiocese. No explanation was given, but all documents and
mobile phones were confiscated and it was referred that nobody could leave the building.
This situation lasted until approximately 19:30.
Everyone was interrogated,
members of the Episcopal Conference and staff. It was not a pleasant experience, but
everything was done correctly. The bishops have always affirmed their trust in justice
and its work. This search was greeted with the same confidence and therefore, for
the moment, the [bishops] shall refrain from making further comments.
Instead,
they, along with Professor Peter Adriaensses, chairman of the committee for handling
sexual abuse as part of a pastoral outreach, regret the fact that during another search,
all files of this committee were seized. This goes against the privacy rights of which
the victims who have chosen to turn to this committee should benefit. This action
gravely affects the much needed and excellent work of this committee.
Eric
de Beukelaer Spokesman for the Episcopal Conference
* * *
In publishing
this statement, the Secretary of State reiterates its firm condemnation of all sinful
and criminal acts of abuse of minors by members of the Church, and the need to repair
and face such acts in accordance with the requirements of justice and the teachings
of the Gospel. It is in the light of these needs that the same Secretary of State
also expresses great surprise at how some searches were conducted yesterday by the
Belgian judicial authorities and its indignation at the fact that the tombs of Cardinals
Jozef-Ernest Van Roey and Léon-Joseph Suenens, deceased archbishops
of Malines-Brussels, were violated. Added to the dismay over those actions, is regret
for some breaches of confidentiality, owed to those very victims for whom the searches
were conducted. These feelings were expressed personally by HE Archbishop Dominique
Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with States, SE Mr. Charles Ghislain, Ambassador
of Belgium to the Holy See.