Pope Slams 'Deplorable' Church Sex Raids

Belgian police action 'unprecedented'
By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff
Suggested by Disillusioned
Posted Jun 28, 2010 4:21 AM CDT
Pope Slams 'Deplorable' Church Sex Raids
A police officer waits outside the Archdiocese of Mechelen in Mechelen, Belgium, earlier this month.   (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)

Raids by Belgian police investigating priest sex abuse are "deplorable," an angry Pope Benedict lashed out yesterday, adding to the chorus of Vatican criticism of the Belgian government. Police last week searched several Catholic Church buildings and seized nearly 500 files and a computer in Leuven, Belgium. Belgium denies Catholic Church allegations that bishops were denied food and water during the raid. Vatican officials compared the raids with the treatment of churches under communism, the BBC reports.

"I want to express to all the bishops of Belgium, my closeness and solidarity in this moment of sadness, in which, with certain surprising and deplorable methods, searches were carried out," Benedict said in a message of support to the Archbishop of Brussels.
(More priest sex abuse stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X