ROME — Pope Francis on Thursday defrocked a notorious Belgian bishop who admitted 14 years ago that he sexually abused his nephew but faced no Vatican punishment.
The Vatican embassy in Belgium said in a statement Thursday that in recent months “grave new elements” had been reported to the Holy See’s sex abuse office that justified reopening the case.It didn’t say what new information had been received. In recent months Belgium’s own bishops have grown increasingly public in their stated outrage at the Vatican’s refusal to take action against Vangheluwe.
Lieve Halsberghe, a Belgian advocate for abuse survivors, said the belated laicization brought no justice to Vangheluwe’s victims and was a mere “PR stunt” ahead of Francis’ visit later this year to Leuven, where the pope is to commemorate the 600th anniversary of Belgium’s Catholic university.“Images of child sexual abuse were found in 2011 on the man’s computer and charges were never laid, because Vangheluwe is protected in high places,” Halsberghe told The Associated Press.
Delft was laicized and formally ousted from the Salesian order on Sept. 9, 2021, a decision that was reported to Francis on April 9, 2022, Archbishop Franco Coppola, the Vatican ambassador to Belgium, said in an email Thursday to AP.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Pope says gender theory is 'ugly ideology' that threatens humanityPope Francis speaks during the international conference 'Man-Woman: Image of God. Towards an Anthropology of Vocations' at the Vatican, March 1, 2024. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.
Source: CBCAlerts - 🏆 37. / 63 Read more »
Ukraine summons Vatican envoy to express 'disappointment' with Pope's commentsUkraine's foreign ministry summoned the papal nuncio on Monday to express its 'disappointment' with Pope Francis' comments in an interview that Ukraine should 'show the white flag' and open talks with Russia to end the two-year-old war with Moscow.
Source: CTVNationalNews - 🏆 82. / 51 Read more »
Ukraine, allies criticize Pope's push for talks with Russia, say 'white flag' comment signals surrenderFILE - Pope Francis attends his weekly general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. The Vatican on Tuesday, Aug.
Source: CBCNews - 🏆 2. / 99 Read more »
Ukraine minister, responding to Pope Francis, says Kyiv will never raise white flagThe Globe and Mail offers the most authoritative news in Canada, featuring national and international news
Source: globeandmail - 🏆 5. / 92 Read more »
Ukraine’s Top Diplomat Pushes Back at Pope’s Peace Talks RemarkUkrainian top diplomat pushed back on Pope Francis’ call for his country to show “the courage of the white flag” and enter negotiations with Russia, a remark that fueled outrage among Ukrainians and condemnation from some foreign allies.
Source: BNNBloomberg - 🏆 83. / 50 Read more »
Pope Francis' 'white flag' comment is met by criticism from Ukraine and its alliesUkrainian and allied officials Sunday criticized Pope Francis for saying that Kyiv should have the 'courage' to negotiate an end to the war with Russia, a statement many interpreted as a call for Ukraine to surrender.
Source: CTVNews - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »