danneels antipope

The Decadence of Godfried Danneels
Details on how the late cardinal and the Church he led killed Belgian Catholicism

“The shaded material on the right [available in the citation] is a clip from Kerk en Leven (Church and Life), in August of 1984. Kerk en Leven is the weekly magazine of the Catholic Church in Flanders. This, via DeepL, is the translation of the first paragraph of the shaded copy:

“A few years ago, an ecumenical working group on paedophilia was established in Flanders. This working group, made up of Catholics and Protestants, aims to make the Churches aware of the phenomenon of paedophilia, to pass on information and to remove prejudices.

“The working group also wants to inform itself about everything that appears in the field of paedophilia. All are welcome who want to get to know paedophilia and paedophiles better, provided this is done in openness, respect and reliability.

“The article goes on to say that they are meeting in a chapel, and that pastors are leading it.
​
“The text on the left-hand column recounts what happened when a concerned mother wrote to Cardinal Danneels, and shared with him more information that she apparently got from the program happening under his auspices. Here is what the Pedophile Working Group advised:

• If your son or daughter feels the connection with the paedophile is fine, do not break that connection;
• The reaction of the environment is often more harmful than the events themselves;
• Many convinced Christians can learn something from paedophiles;
• It is preferable that a relationship of trust be established between the paedophile in the parents.

​“Cardinal Danneels did nothing about this, according to the text. That was the same year his dear friend Roger Vangheluwe became Bishop of Bruges. Vangheluwe would decades later be exposed as a pedophile who molested two of his nephews — and Cardinal Danneels was secretly recorded by one of the victims attempting to gain the victim’s silence.
​
“This is the great liberal cardinal that Pope Francis invited to participate in the Church’s Synod on the Family.”
…
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/decadence-of-godfried-danneels-belgium-pedophilia/
​[secular outlet]

I would suggest that people keep as wide a circle of friends as possible. I gained some wisdom over the years as Catholics made me feel like an outsider, whereas non-Catholics, such as my current student, former students, and parents, treated me like a king.

Limiting your personal and work contacts to Catholics only is foolhardy, and I would encourage wise leaders and friends to have allies. You never know from whence cometh help, especially in a dogfight.