The following are some updates concerning the recent police raids in Belgium...
* Pope Benedict sent a message of solidarity to the president of the Belgian Episcopal Conference which stated that...
"At this sad time I wish to express my special closeness and solidarity to you, dear brother in the episcopate, and to all the bishops of the Church in Belgium, for the surprising and deplorable manner in which searches were carried out at the cathedral of Mechelen and at the site where the Belgian episcopate was gathered in a plenary assembly which, among other things, also intended to consider questions associated with the abuse of minors by members of the clergy. On a number of occasions I myself have highlighted how these serious matters should be dealt with by both civil law and canon law, while respecting the specific nature and autonomy of each. In this context, I trust that justice may run its course in order to guarantee the fundamental rights of persons and of institutions, at the same time respecting victims, showing unconditional recognition for those who undertake to collaborate, and rejecting everything that obscures the noble goal with which justice is assigned."
* An earlier claim that the bishops didn't receive food or drink during the nine hour search is apparently not true
* The diocesan committee set up to handle abuse complaints will reportedly close down in the wake of the seizure of "all of its records." Confiscation of the records by law enforcement has generated privacy concerns for alleged abuse victims
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