Cardinal Gottfried Danneels

[LassOfFyvie]

Yesterday someone made a remark almost in passing about the death of an unnamed Belgian Cardinal.

Here is his obituary. He was seen as a progressive and a liberal.

cruxnow.com/obituary/2019/03/14/beyond-politics-and-scandal-late-belgian-cardinal-was-a-gentleman/

Here are some other thoughts on Cardinal Danneels. He was involved in the promotion of sex education guidance. If one were being charitable one could take the view that part of it pointed out the uncontroversial fact that children will be curious about and explore and touch their own bodies and that nerve endings and physical responses will do what they do even before the mind can understand those reactions.

The language used to explore this (if indeed that was the intention) is in the final link (The article by Alexandra Colen in The Brussels Journal) It is shocking, disgraceful and pornographic.

voiceofthefamily.com/heterodox-cardinal-embroiled-in-child-abuse-cover-up-scandal-is-popes-special-appointee-to-family-synod/

www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/cardinal-danneels-euthanizer-of-belgian-catholicism/

www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/decadence-of-godfried-danneels-belgium-pedophilia/

www.brusselsjournal.com/node/4471

NB for some reason I can't make links clicky on a new thread so will post them as a second post.

Clicky links

cruxnow.com/obituary/2019/03/14/beyond-politics-and-scandal-late-belgian-cardinal-was-a-gentleman/

voiceofthefamily.com/heterodox-cardinal-embroiled-in-child-abuse-cover-up-scandal-is-popes-special-appointee-to-family-synod/

www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/cardinal-danneels-euthanizer-of-belgian-catholicism/

www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/decadence-of-godfried-danneels-belgium-pedophilia/

www.brusselsjournal.com/node/4471

LassOfFyvie
I had no idea about this - especially the paedophile catechism book that was used by priests with children. Blatant open paedophilia. Despicable.

I see the Guardian also covered it:
www.theguardian.com/world/2010/sep/10/belgium-child-abuse-catholic-church

Bloody hell. Totally supportive of paedophilia

Horrific! And I fear will be brushed under the carpet yet again.

All these scandals have similar things in common:

• male dominated power structures (in the case of the Catholic church not just male-dominated, but women totally excluded)
• a culture where the "laity" are not allowed to question decisions
• a culture of secrecy, where suspicions are dealt with "in house"

And often additionally there's an aspect of the perpetrators being presumed to have the moral ground therefore being "teflon" or untouchable ("doing so much for children/charity/such good religious men of conviction/members of an oppressed minority so we should be kind to them in case we're the one's being racist").

The Catholic church, Savile and the BBC, sexual abuse in care homes, sexual abuse in the overseas aid sector, sexual abuse in sports coaching (US gymnastics, the current FA coaching scandal), Rochdale - it all follows the same pattern.

That is horrendous and awful. I’m a Catholic. One thing my mother taught me is that unquestioned obedience is a bad idea. Catholics need to know their faith and challenge robustly and strongly when the hierarchy do terrible things.
And personally I don’t think enough is being done at the moment.

Famously sweary Catholic here. The hierarchy can fucking fuck off with this abhorrent softly softly bullshit about abuse. I am sick to the back teeth of it. I firmly believe Christ will judge corrupt and negligent shepherds with a judgement far harsher than most. Those responsible for these things, and those allowing it, covering it up and down playing it, instead of repenting in dust and ashes and ensuring robust safeguarding frameworks and no tolerance for abuse, can expect the face a very severe time in the afterlife. Their lackadaisical attitude to this tells me they don't even really believe, tbh. If I were them I would be petrified. I'm so angry.

Totally agree with Captainmarvelbunting , Fermat'stheorem and Epiphany. It's utterly deplorable,c and although I'm Catholic, I can't now listen to a priest preaching without thinking about the Church's loss of moral credibility.

I didn't know any of this. I can't remember who mentioned it yesterday or even which thread but in this case Google was indeed a friend.

You probably don't need to delve any further into the catechism but there are more examples of pornographic language and drawings of naked babies with speech bubbles coming out of their mouths containing these statements. It is unbelievable it could have been published.

Dr. Alexandra Colen is a traditional and conservative Catholic and was dismissed out of hand as a trouble- maker for raising her concerns about this.

Why is it that the links in the OP are all from really conservative publications? Is there a suggestion that 'liberal' = 'pedophile-protector'?

To be honest, I cannot see the connection between that particular cardinal telling King Baudoin that he could sign the abortion law, or that legal same sex marriage ought to be respected, and his covering up of pedophilia.

I wish the criticisms were kept separate - some of these stances are against the general doctrine of the catholic church, and may have harmed the church or its believers; but when it comes to child abuse, it is against the law and all of society - but covering up child abuse is something that many catholic priests have been involved in, not just the liberal ones.

I also have no sympathy whatsoever with Vlaamse Block members I'm afraid. Although, of course, a stopped clock is right twice a day.

The links are in conservative sources as they seem to be the only sources which are bothered by the pornographic language used in the sex guidance approved by this Cardinal.

Did you actually read any of the links?

I thought this article here was interesting and relevant to the general discussion.