Pope should resign, says chairman of Belgian bishops' investigating commission

The psychologist who headed an independent commission investigating sex-abuse charges for the Belgian bishops has said that Pope Benedict XVI should resign to “set an example” of accountability in the Church.

Peter Adriaenssens told the daily De Morgen that the Pope “should not content himself with just expressing regret.” 

It would be better, he said, if the Pope took dramatic action to show that “one person is taking responsibility.”

Noting that the sex-abuse crisis has been a worldwide problem, Adriaenssens reasoned that the Pope should accept ultimate responsibility for the problem.

Adriaenssens and the other members of the Belgian investigating commission, which had been created by the Belgian bishops, resigned after a police raid in which all their confidential files were seized by prosecutors. 

After a court decision requiring authorities to return the files, the commission presented its final report on September 10, disclosing that almost 500 people had reported abuse by Catholic priests in Begium.

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