CathNews
August 29 2010
http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=23027
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The contents of leaked video tapes of a Belgian cardinal urging a victim not to reveal he was sexually abused by a bishop have been published in two Belgian papers.
The tapes, made secretly by the victim, show the former primate of Belgium, Cardinal Godfried Danneels, asking him to accept a private apology or wait one year until the bishop retired before making his case public, Reuters.com reports.
A spokesman for Danneels denied the once popular archbishop of Brussels wanted to cover up the case, which led to the sudden resignation of Bruges Bishop Roger Vangheluwe, 73, later that month. But the tapes from a meeting on April 8 have him arguing for silence.
Belgian Church spokesman Jurgen Mettepenningen confirmed to Reuters that the transcripts in the Flemish dailies De Standaard and Het Nieuwsblad were genuine.
"From everything he says, it's clear that his only aim is to avoid having the case made public so many years after the facts. It is containment, nothing more," De Standaard wrote in a commentary accusing Danneels of lacking any compassion.
"The bishop will resign next year, so actually it would be better for you to wait," the Cardinal says to the victim. "I don't think you'd do yourself or him a favour by shouting this from the rooftops."
The man pleads for help but Danneels, 77, who had stepped down as Brussels archbishop in January, says he cannot discipline Vangheluwe or inform higher authorities, including Pope Benedict.
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