April 23, 2010. The pope accepted the resignation of the Belgian Bishop Roger Joseph Vangheluwe. Vangheluwe, the bishop of Bruges, came clean about abusing a young man at the beginning of his episcopate.


The bishop says over the last ten years he’s apologized to the victim and his family but he says that’s wasn’t enough for those affected including himself. Now, for the first time he’s making his apology public and stepping down.


Vangheluwe said, over the last couple of weeks his trauma has grown stronger after what he called a “media storm”. The bishop said it’s impossible to continue with this situation” and that’s why he presented his letter of resignation the Benedict XVI.

Vangheluwe once again apologized to the victim, the family, the Catholic community and society in general and expressed his sadness over the situation.


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