Belgian Bishop Admits Abusing Second Nephew: Contrast with Vatican's Excommunication/Dismissal of Maryknoll Priest Roy Bourgeois and Women Priests

BRUSSELS (AP) — "A former Belgian bishop at the center of one of the Roman Catholic church's biggest pedophile scandals said Thursday that he had abused two nephews and insisted he had no plans to abandon the priesthood. In his first television interview since the scandal broke a year ago, Roger Vangheluwe claimed he paid one nephew he abused for years tens of thousands of euros in support, but denied it was meant to keep him silent. He called 13 years of sexual abuse of one nephew which started at age 5 as no more than "a little piece of intimacy." He said the abuse of a second nephew was very short...Sex abuse victims accuse the church of letting off the hook bishops who molested minors and see Vangheluwe's fate as a prime example.Pope Benedict XVI will eventually decide his fate. He could be stripped of his priesthood."

Bridget Mary's Reflection:

Contrast the treatment by the Vatican of Roger Vangheluwe, a bishop pedophile, with the Vatican's threat to force Maryknoll to dismiss Fr. Roy Bourgeois for his support of women priests! Observe the Vatican is not threatening the bishop pedophile with excommunication or dismissal from the priesthood, but is pushing Maryknoll to dismiss Fr. Roy from the Order. (The Vatican has already excommunicated Fr. Roy.

The real scandal here is the Vatican who places women priests in the same serious crime category as pedophiles! The real scandal here is the institutional church's abuse of power - demanding that Fr. Roy recant his support for women's equality in our church. Since when is God's call to women to serve the church as priests and justice for women in the church a crime? The global sexual abuse crisis and its coverup has gutted the moral credibility of the institutional church. This is the real crime here. The silver lining in this crisis is that God is doing something new to renew the church. Catholic communities worldwide are calling forth women priests, married priests, and in some cases celibate male priests. (In Clevland, a pastor is continuing to serve the community after the parish was closed.)

This new model is rooted in the example of Jesus who called women and men to be disciples and equals. See Luke 8 : Among Jesus disciples were Mary of Magdala, Joanna, Suzanna and "many others." In all four Gospels, Mary of Magdala is the only one who is present at both the cross and tomb. The Risen Christ appeared first to Mary of Magdala and called her to "go and tell" which is the job description of an apostle. So Mary, the apostle to the apostles proclaimed the the good news to the other disciples - including the male apostles. It is time for the Vatican to follow Jesus' example of Gospel equality and partnership as this renewal is already taking place in grassroots communities.

In Romans 16:1-16, Paul greets the women leaders of the house churches. Scholars conclude that women presided at Eucharist in these house churches, and that women were ordained to serve their communities for 1200 years.

As we move into Holy Week, let us reflect on how we can follow Jesus' example of total self-giving in service to others as a more open, loving, compassionate and just community of faith.

Bridget Mary Meehan, RCWP

Roman Catholic Women Priests Association

www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org