Belgian Church raided as authorities search for files on clerical abuse

Files and a computer were seized from the house of the former Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, Cardinal Godfried Danneels, linked to clerical abuse of children, after a morning raid yesterday. Four-hundred-and-seventy-five files about Belgian abuse cases were also confiscated from the commission which investigates child abuse in the Church. According to the Flemish press, Cardinal Danneels’ name was mentioned 50 times in the confiscated dossiers which could possibly link him to coverup efforts. His spokesman has said that he is happy to collaborate with the secular investigators. In Flemish, reports here and here. Both Rocco Palmo over on Whispers and Andrew Brown at the Guardian have more.