March 21, 2024 / 11:24 AM
The Apostolic Nunciature of Belgium issued a statement on March 21 reporting Pope Francis’ decision to expel from the clerical state the Bishop Emeritus of Bruges, Roger Vangheluwe, guilty of sexual abuse.
The text explains that in recent months the case, in which Pope Benedict XVI had accepted the resignation of the prelate 14 years ago, presented new elements, such as the testimony of a victim, which made the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith return to investigate it.
This prompted the dicastery to propose to Pope Francis the expulsion of Vangheluwe from the clerical state. After the audience with the prefect of the dicastery, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández on March 11, “Pope Francis accepted the request, ordering that the proposed penalty be imposed.”