The resignation of Bishop Roger Vangheluwe, 73, Bishop of Bruges since 1984, was the first from Belgium since a child abuse scandal began testing the Catholic Church several months ago in Europe and the United States.Vangheluwe issued a statement in which he announced his resignation and said it had been accepted by Pope Benedict XVI.
"When I was not yet a bishop, and some time later, I abused a boy," Vangheluwe said in the statement.
"This has marked the victim forever. The wound does not heal. Neither in me nor the victim," Vangheluwe's statement said, adding that he repeatedly has asked the victim and his family for forgiveness.
"I am enormously sorry," he said. Vangheluwe had been due to retire next year.
As elsewhere, the Catholic Church in Belgium has a weak record of cracking down on sexual abusers in its ranks.
In 2000 it created a panel to look into abuse complaints that quickly clashed with the church leadership. The panel has accused the church of tardiness in compensating victims.
Hundreds of people have come forward in recent months, including in Pope Benedict's native Germany, accusing priests of raping and abusing them while bishops and other church higher-ups turned a blind eye.
This week, the Vatican has said it would do everything in its power to bring justice to abusive priests and implement "effective measures" to protect children.
This is now the Vatican announced the Bishop’s resignation: “The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the Diocese of Brugge (Belgium), presented by His Excellency Bishop Joseph Roger Vangheluwe, in accordance with canon 401 2 of the Code of Canon Law.”
Can. 401 §2 A diocesan Bishop who, because of illness or some other grave reason, has become unsuited for the fulfilment of his office, is earnestly requested to offer his resignation from office.
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