Pope Benedict XVI has joined a chorus of criticism of a raid on Belgian Church headquarters by police seeking evidence of alleged clergy sexual abuse.
In a letter of solidarity to Belgian bishops, he called the raid on the Mechelen-Brussels Archdiocese “surprising and deplorable” for the heavy-handed way it was carried out.
The Pope also reiterated his position that accusations of abuse of children within the Catholic Church should be pursued by civil as well as Church authorities.
Meanwhile, members of an independent commission created by the Church to examine clerical sexual abuse accusations resigned this week, saying that the police raids had made it impossible for them to continue their work.
