On Tuesday the various parties that are represented in the Federal Parliament agreed to the setting up of a Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry into abuse by clergy in the Roman Catholic church. The discission to set up a Committee of Inquiry follows the broadcast of a VRT documentary series in which numerous victims of abuse by Roman Catholic clergy testified. Abuse outside the church (schools, sports clubs, youth group,…) will also be examined by the Committee.
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Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry into abuse by clergymen to start at the of the month
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After the last episode of the documentary series was broadcast almost all political parties supported the call for the setting up, of a Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry. With the exception of the far-right Vlaams Belang and the far-left PVDA, niether of which were consulted, on Tuesday all parties in the Federal Parliament agreed that a Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry should be set up.
The committee may even sit for the first time at the end of this month.
Previously a “Special Committee” of MPs examined the issue of abuse by clergy. Now a full-fledged Parliamentary Investigation Committee that has the power to order property searches and question witnesses under oath will do the same.
The Committee will collaborate closely with the Supreme Judicial Council to examine how the judiciary has tackled abuse in the Church in recent years.
The Committee will have until March 31 to formulate conclusions and recommendations. However, if more time is needed this could prove tricky as parliament will be dissolved ahead of the elections that take place on 9 June.