Belgian church announces centre for sex abuse victims
The Church in Belgium has announced the opening of a centre for recovery, reconciliation
and rehabilitation for victims of abuse by church members. The planned centre was
announced by the Archbishop of Malines-Brussels, Joseph Leonard during a press conference
Monday morning.
Speaking on behalf of the Belgian bishops, he said the Church
is determined “to learn the necessary lessons from the terrible events of the past”.
In this process, the bishops will follow five important suggestions; firstly that
the victims themselves, at their insistence, be involved in planning any new initiative.
In
fact, the suggestion for a centre for “recovery, reconciliation and renewal”, was
put forward by a victim, after the Independent Commission set up by the Church to
investigate complaints of sexual abuse folded in the wake of a police raid on its
offices two months ago.
The Commission, headed by independent child psychiatrist
Peter Adriaenssens, published its report Friday last detailing an estimated 300 cases
of abuse on minors. Prof. Adriaenssens described the investigation process as “shocking”
and underlined that most of the cases dated back to the 1960’s and 1970’s.
According
to Archbishop Leonard, four experts will be appointed to begin preliminary discussions
on collaboration and draw up the operating rules for the new centre. The archbishop
said they hoped it will be operational within the year, but that in the meantime,
an information desk will be open, with limited powers, to which people can send their
inquiries via phone or email.
Archbishop Leonard concluded that it will take
time to bring healing and closure given the enormity of the challenge which now faces
the Church.