Belgian Abuse Survivors Urge Pope Francis for Deeper Reforms

Survivors of sexual abuse in Belgium urged Pope Francis to take stronger action against perpetrators and advocate for deeper reforms in the Catholic Church ahead of his visit to Brussels. Despite the Pope's efforts, abuse victims feel the Church has not adequately addressed the crisis.

Survivors of sexual abuse in Belgium have called on Pope Francis to take stronger action against perpetrators and push for deeper reforms within the Catholic Church. This plea comes just days before his scheduled visit to Brussels.

The 87-year-old pontiff, who will also be visiting Luxembourg, has described abuse as 'demonic' and emphasized prevention as his priority. Among those urging for change is 78-year-old writer Jean Marc Turine, who was abused as a child at a Catholic school in Brussels. Turine criticized the Church's response to the crisis, stating, 'We're damaged. It was criminal. This is something incredibly perverse.'

Since 2012, more than 700 complaints and reports of abuse have emerged in Belgium. Globally, Catholic clergy abuse scandals have rocked countries including Germany, France, Ireland, Spain, and Portugal. Church leaders in Belgium assert their commitment to addressing abuse, enforcing stringent policies, and defrocking offending priests. Despite the creation of a high-level papal commission and a global abuse reporting system under Pope Francis, survivors seek further action, including mandatory reporting of abuse by clergy.

(With inputs from agencies.)