Leader of Belgium’s Catholics attacks predecessor: “He should have stood up to sexual abuse in the Church of Rome”

After the first episode of “Godvergeten” the bishops' conference stuck to a written response. "The broadcast makes a deep impression because of the authenticity of the stories, the seriousness of the acts committed and the injuries they caused," the bishops noted. The bishops also stated that they "appreciate the courage of the victims" and that they are aware that the many acts of sexual abuse have caused irreparable damage.

A few days later, on the day the second episode was to be aired, Bishop Johan Bonny responded on VRT Radio. The Bishop of Antwerp then voiced support for those who for years have been following up the issue within the Church of Rome. "I have difficulty with the fact that the impression is now being created that we did nothing all these years," he said.

The bishop did not wish to respond fully until the entire series was aired. That is why after the broadcast of the fourth and final episode on VRT’s Canvas channel, he was a guest on an extra episode of the talk show "De Afspraak".

At the beginning of that interview, he said he wanted to nuance his earlier statements. "In the earlier interview on VRT Radio I used expressions that I want to retract. My words were felt as a blow.  It was meant differently."

Blind spot

However, he did not retract his criticism of the previous generation. "I blame them for not fixing this issue. That makes me angry." According to Bonny, the series and the "gripping testimonies of the victims" are a signal to "say goodbye to a certain account of events and certain figures".

He is referring, for example, to former Cardinal Godfried Danneels, the man who had tried to convince Roger Vangheluwe's nephew "to keep quiet about abuse by his uncle for another year". Because by then the bishop would have retired. It was a conversation that the nephew recorded, which meant evidence was finally on tape and that got the ball rolling.

"I believe (priest and activist) Rik Devillé went to Danneels with the victims and letters, but for Danneels it was a blind spot. A blind spot that was in front of his nose." Bonny therefore blames Danneels for a lack of leadership. "He was not a leadership figure; you cannot let this pass. He should have stood up."

Bonny has no time for another figure from the past, Roger Vangheluwe, either. Vangheluwe is still a bishop and lives in a remote abbey. He should have been deconsecrated as a bishop and priest long ago, the Bishop of Antwerp believes.

"The bishops asked him to resign his functions and have asked Rome several times, the last time in November last year, to do so," he said. "But we don't get any response from Rome either and that makes us angry."

Vangheluwe, accused of sexual child abuse, is said to have asked the bishops' conference for "time for reflection". Bonny expects an answer soon. "But if he does not do it himself, Rome must take action," he says.

Outstretched hand to victims

In the series the victims of sexual abuse by Belgian clergy stress several times that what they want above all is recognition from the Church of Rome for their suffering. Something they say they have so far not received.

"There have been a lot of individual acknowledgements," Bonny says. "But I don't know if that is enough. We have to talk to the victims about this and if this is not the case, we have to see what else we can do."

Bonny then reached out to the victims. "They are all welcome tomorrow. And we are also going to take the initiative to visit them ourselves. We want to listen to them and see together in what way they want to engage in conversation. I also realise that some of them will not want that."

On Operation Chalice, the judicial investigation into sexual abuse in the Church of Rome in Belgium, Bonny is adamant. "Godvergeten", he says, gives the impression that the Church of Rome put pressure on the judiciary, even to have certain documents removed from the file, but he says this is manifestly false. "We have never interfered in the legal procedure," he said.

According to Bonny, the judicial authorities started the case in the wrong way and that harsh approach damaged the dossier from the beginning. "I was there myself; it was 'crazy'. They even broke open Cardinal Mercier's tomb in the cathedral looking for files on child abuse."