Roger Vangheluwe Goes into Hiding over Belgium's Clergy Sexual Abuses

Published 09/11/2010 

by David James

Roger Vangheluwe has gone to hiding. The pastor went into hiding after investigations into Belgium’s Catholic clergy clarified widespread sexual abuse. The investigations revealed that suicides happened because of the sexual abuses.

Roger Vangheluwe is a former Belgium Catholic bishop who resigned after publicly admitting sexually abusing his nephew for years. The former priest told reporters that he was going into hiding to reassess his life.

The Catholic Church has been very embarrassed by these developments. Earlier, upon the release of the report, his superiors ordered his immediate exit from the church. The pastor has since then kept a low profile. He emerged on Saturday and told reporters he was going in to hiding to reassess his future.

Vangheluwe left an abbey in his bishopric of Bruges. This is where he has been living since stepping down in April. A prominent senator called him advising him to leave the church as an institution.

In a statement, Vangheluwe said that he would contemplate on his life and future somewhere hidden away from the bishopry. His confession in April led to widespread condemnation of Catholic clergy sexual abuses.

A report was released late this week verifying clergy sexual abuses that led to 13 suicides and a lot of trauma. The former bishop asked for forgiveness from the church, society and all people. He insisted that this situation has increased his remorse.

(wikipeers.com)