June 28, 2010. The pope has sent a message of solidarity to Belgian bishops about police raids of church offices last week, which he calls “surprising and deplorable.”
Police detained bishops for nine hours as they searched two Church offices and the home of former archbishop Godfried Danneels. Police inserted a microcamera into the tombs of two cardinals and confiscated Church computers and documents.
The pope's message asks for Belgian officials to continue their investigation to clarify what happened in the alleged sexual abuse cases.
Benedict XVI also asks for respect for alleged victims' rights. Belgian authorities have sequestered statements from a number of victims who hadn't gone to police; some victims previously had worked on condition of anonymity with a Church commission.
The former president of the Church commission on sex abuse Peter Adriaenssens has resigned from his position, saying he feels authorities used the commission “as bait.”
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