Roger Vangheluwe has until the end of this week to give up his titles of bishop and priest. If he does not do that, the Belgian bishops will go to the Pope. This is what Bishop Bonny says at VTM NEWS.
LOOK. VTM NEWS journalist Carl Theunis rings Vangheluwe’s doorbell:
Bishop Bonny has traveled to Solesmes, France, where Roger Vangheluwe is staying in an abbey. The Belgian bishops want Vangheluwe to give up his titles of bishop and priest. He will now have until the end of this week to think about this.
If Vangheluwe does not respond to the request, the Belgian bishops will go to Rome. They will urge the Pope to remove Vangheluwe’s titles so that he becomes a layman.
Program
There was a lot of fuss after the VRT program ‘Godforgotten’, in which several victims and loved ones had their say. David Vangheluwe, Roger Vangheluwe’s cousin, also testified in the program. The program also includes a conversation between Roger, Godfried Danneels and Mark. Danneels thinks asking for forgiveness is an option, but that is out of the question for Mark.
Despite his confession, Vangheluwe is never punished. He is able to keep his titles and is exiled to a monastery in France. In an interview he said that what he did with his cousin was “a game”.
LOOK. Bishop Bonny: “Vangheluwe has until the end of this week to make a decision”
Meeting victims
Tomorrow, Prime Minister De Croo and Minister Van Quickenborne will receive victims of sexual abuse in church, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson reports. Several representatives of the church will also be present, such as Bishop Bonny.
Almost all parties support the demand for a commission of inquiry into sexual abuse in the church.
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