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  Belgian Newspaper Defamed Cardinal Danneels, Lawyer Charges

Catholic Culture
September 1, 2010

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=7423

A Belgian newspaper "voluntarily and deliberately defamed" Cardinal Godfried Danneels when it published transcripts of a conversation between the cardinal and a victim of sexual abuse, the cardinal's lawyer has charged.

Fernand Keueleneer, the lawyer representing Cardinal Danneels, said the the daily De Standaard culled out selected passages from a transcript of the conversation between the retired prelate and a man who was abused for years by Bishop Roger Vangheluwe. The lawyer said that Cardinal Danneels had not been prepared for the conversation, and needed time to reflect on the man's report before taking action. "This has nothing to do with a plot or a cover-up," Keuleneer said.

The cardinal's lawyer pointed out that just two weeks after the meeting between Cardinal Danneels and the abuse victim, Bishop Vangheluwe resigned. "Cardinal Danneels had also come to the conclusion that that was the only adequate way of proceeding," Keuleneer said.

In his conversation with the victim—which was recorded without the cardinal's knowledge—Cardinal Danneels had asked the victim to hold off on his complaints against the bishop under Vangheluwe retired.

 
 

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