Police Raid Home of Belgian Archbishop in Child sex Abuse Probe

[Unhypnotized]

06-25-2010 04:36 AM

Police investigating child sex abuse allegations yesterday raided the home of the former head of Belgium’s Roman Catholics. They seized a personal computer and documents belonging to Cardinal Godfried Danneels. Around 30 officers and prosecutors took part in raids on his home in Mechelen near Brussels and the archdiocesan palace, headquarters of the church in Belgium.

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Vatican astonished at Belgian police raid

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100625/...atican_belgium

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican said Friday it was astonished and outraged that Belgian police investigating priestly sex abuse had conducted raids that also targeted the graves of two archbishops.

The Vatican summoned the Belgian ambassador to the Holy See to convey its anger over the raids, which also included the home and offices of the retired archbishop of Belgium. The ambassador was called in for a meeting with the Vatican's foreign minister.

In a statement, the Vatican said any sinful and criminal abuse of minors from members of the church must be condemned and repeated that there is a need for justice and amends.

But it added, "The Secretariat of State also expresses astonishment at the way in which the search took place." It expressed "outrage over the violation of the tombs."

On Thursday, police raided the home and former office of former Archbishop Godfried Danneels, taking documents and Danneels' personal computer. Police and prosecutors did not say if Danneels was suspected of abuse himself or simply had records pertaining to allegations against another person. He was not questioned.

Investigators also opened the graves of archbishops in the St. Rombouts Cathedral in Mechlin, north of Brussels, looking for possibly incriminating documents, said Jean-Marc Meilleur, spokesman for the Brussels public prosecutor.