The CathNews
August 17 2010
http://www.cathnewsasia.com/2010/08/18/belgian-raid-on-church-unlawful-attorney-gen-rules/
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The office of the Brussels attorney general has declared that a June 24 police raid on the offices of the Catholic archbishop in Mechelen was unlawful and that any evidence found is inadmissible in court.
The Brussels court of prosecution has also issued a judgment that all confiscated documents and computers must be returned, NCR Online reports.
The attorney general’s declaration and decision of the court were made public not by the court but by Fernand Keuleneer, a lawyer representing the Archdiocese of Brussels-Mechelen and Cardinal Godfried Danneels, the retired archbishop.
However, the court of prosecution also ruled that investigations into allegations of the sexual abuse of children by clergy could continue for cases that came to light after police seized documents and computers in June.
The latest legal moves took victims of sexual abuse by surprise, and an attorney for victims said his clients will appeal the matter to the European Court of Human Rights.
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