Belgium: abuse plaintiffs plan to sue Holy See

A group of more than 80 people in Belgium who say they were sexually abused by priests or church workers, announced the launch of a legal action against the Holy See on Wednesday.

Lawyer Walter van Steenbrugge told a press conference that while Pope Benedict enjoys diplomatic immunity, other Vatican officials, Belgian bishops and superiors of religious orders will be summoned to appear before a Belgian civil court for failing to stop sexual abuse by priests and church workers under their responsibility.

This is the first time in Europe that legal proceedings had been initiated against the church authorities.

The Catholic Church in Belgium is still reeling over a series of revelations last year of nearly 500 cases of alleged abuse by priests and church workers since the 1950s, including 13 known suicides among victims. The most shocking case was that of the Bishop of Bruges, Roger Vangheluwe, who admitted abusing a nephew for 13 years. After being removed from his post and sent on retreat in France he admitted in a television interview in April this year, that he had abused another nephew. Both crimes took place too long ago for him to be prosecuted under Belgian law. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has still not reached a final decision about his future - a decision which will need to be approved by the Holy Father.

The Vatican has not yet commented on the summons.