‘Many new reports of abuse in the church’
The working group was founded in the 1990s together with priest Rik Devillé, the whistleblower in the documentary series.
Lydia Bormans, Human Rights Working Group in the church: “Today and yesterday 29 emails and 14 telephone calls were received here, from yesterday until this afternoon. These are not all new reports, but new reports arrive very regularly.”
Turning point
Many victims feel touched by the testimonies and step outside their anonymity. And public outrage also seems greater than ever. Lydia Bormans, Human Rights Working Group in the Church: “There is a massive response from all over society, now also from politics. I think they will have no choice, the church will also have to respond. I think that will be a turning point.” I don’t think we can go back.”
And this is also a recognition for the working group itself, after years of struggle against abuse in the church. Norbert Bethune, Human Rights Working Group in the Church: “We are coming out of an era of complete misrecognition, of ‘punching blows’ from the establishment. From ‘you can’t do it anymore’, to the realization of people now that things were seriously wrong.”