2024-03-01 17:33:00
Raf De Rycke, president of the Congregation of the Brothers of Charity, presented his apologies to the commission of inquiry into sexual violence on Friday, not only for the acts committed by the clergy of the Brothers of Charity at the time, but also for the culture that prevailed there. “There was a kind of omerta“, he admitted.
The parliamentary commission on sexual violence in the Church was created following the broadcast of the documentary series “Godvergeten”, in which victims testified regarding sexual assaults committed by members of the clergy. Violence also took place in schools and healthcare institutions run by Catholic congregations. Previous witnesses to the commission accused the Superior General, René Stockman, who is no longer in charge of the congregation, of having concealed facts for years. In particular, he allegedly put pressure on witnesses to remain silent and on police officers not to investigate the complaints. Mr. Stockman denied it outright before the commission of inquiry on Monday.
MPs questioned Raf De Rycke and director Veron Raes on Friday. Both had come to present the efforts of the congregation to fight once morest transgressive behavior. They also referred to repeated apologies to victims, most recently in an open letter in October last year, which also distanced itself from Mr Stockman.
The session also had to be briefly interrupted on Friday followingnoon following Jos Claes, the former provincial superior of the Salesians of Don Bosco, briefly lost his temper. The man received an avalanche of questions regarding his actions once morest former priest Luk Delft. This priest had been transferred from one school to another following attacks, following which the violence recurred. The deputies expressed their astonishment at the fact that he was once once more given a position where he was in contact with young people. Luk Delft made international headlines following molesting at least two boys during a religious mission in the Central African Republic. Mr. Claes defended himself by emphasizing, among other things, that he was unaware of Mr. Delft’s transfer until it emerged, in 2009, that content of sexual violence once morest minors had been found on a computer he was using. “I have always acted to do good, but apparently I haven’t done itt”, added Mr. Claes. “JSo I must apologize. I always thought I acted conscientiously.”
Mr. Claes then burst into tears and President Dewit briefly suspended the session.
Sexual violence within the Church
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