Record Renunciations of Baptism in Belgium Amid Scandals
In a significant turn of events for the Belgian Catholic Church, 2023 saw a record-breaking number of over 14,000 requests for removal from baptismal registers, a stark increase attributed to the ongoing fallout from sexual abuse scandals within the Church. The Belgian Bishops' Conference revealed that a total of 14,251 individuals sought to have their names removed, a dramatic rise from the typical annual figure of around 1,200 and the peak of over 5,000 in 2021.
The surge in renunciations has been closely linked to the impact of a documentary titled "Godvergeten" (translated as "Forgotten of God"), aired by the Flemish public broadcaster VRT in the fall of 2023. This documentary featured harrowing testimonies from approximately twenty victims, primarily elderly men, who recounted the sexual assaults and rapes they endured as adolescents in Catholic institutions decades ago. The bishops' conference noted that while no reasons are formally required for these requests, many individuals cited their actions as a response to the "disgust" stemming from the Church's handling of sexual abuse and the pervasive culture of silence surrounding these issues.
The Broader Impact of Scandals on Belgian Society
The vast majority of these requests—98%—originated from baptized Catholics residing in Brussels or Flanders, the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium, while the French-speaking southern region of Wallonia showed significantly less concern. In a recent visit to Belgium, Pope Francis acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating that the Church must "be ashamed" and seek forgiveness for the sexual violence inflicted on minors by clergy members.
Both Belgian King Philippe and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo expressed their concerns to the Pope regarding the scandals that have severely eroded public trust in the Church. The Prime Minister highlighted that both the sexual abuse of minors and the forced adoptions that occurred in the latter half of the 20th century have had lasting negative effects on the Church's reputation among Belgians. According to recent surveys, approximately 43% of Belgium's 11.7 million residents identify as Catholic, a figure that may continue to decline as the ramifications of these scandals unfold.
