(ZENIT News / Bruxelles, 10.04.2024).- Tensions between Belgium and the Vatican flared this week after Pope Francis made pointed remarks on abortion during his recent visit to the country. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced that the government would summon the Vatican’s ambassador, or nuncio, in protest of what he deemed “unacceptable interference” in Belgium’s domestic affairs.
De Croo’s sharp response followed comments made by the Pope on September 29, at the conclusion of his trip to Belgium, during which Francis reiterated his long-held stance that abortion is equivalent to murder. While such statements are not unusual for the pontiff, this time they were made in the context of a visit to a nation whose legal and social landscape on abortion differs significantly from the Vatican’s position.
The Prime Minister, addressing the Belgian Chamber of Deputies on October 3, expressed his displeasure, stating, “It is absolutely unacceptable for a foreign head of state to make such declarations about the democratic decisions made within our country.” He further added, “We do not need lessons on how our parliamentarians legislate. Fortunately, the days when the Church dictated our laws are long behind us.”
The incident escalated when Jan Danckaert, rector of the Free University of Brussels, published an opinion piece criticizing the Pope’s language as not only offensive to doctors who perform abortions but also to Belgium as a nation. Danckaert wrote in “De Standaard”, “It’s truly unheard of for a foreign head of state to claim the right to attack another country’s laws, especially one that is democratic.”
The flashpoint for this diplomatic rift came during Pope Francis’ press conference aboard his return flight to Rome, where he was asked by a Belgian journalist about his praise for the late King Baudouin. The former monarch famously abdicated his throne for one day in 1990 rather than sign a bill legalizing abortion. In response, the Pope repeated his previous rhetoric, stating, “Abortion is murder. A human being is killed.” He even likened doctors performing abortions to “hitmen,” a provocative comparison that has drawn criticism.
De Croo, who had met with the Pope on September 27, took the opportunity to confront the pontiff over the Catholic Church’s handling of clerical sexual abuse, a scandal that has particularly rocked Belgium in recent years. But the abortion issue quickly overshadowed that discussion, particularly in light of current Belgian legislative efforts. The country’s parliament is debating whether to extend the legal period for abortion from 12 to 18 weeks, a highly sensitive issue that has reignited tensions between secular and religious viewpoints.
Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden echoed De Croo’s indignation, describing the Pope’s comments as “unnecessarily hurtful to women and healthcare providers.” The controversy comes at a delicate time for Belgium, where the coalition government—formed after protracted negotiations involving seven parties—is already navigating tricky political waters. De Croo’s Open VLD party secured just 5.5% of the vote in the June elections, with the coalition relying on cooperation to govern.
Adding to the diplomatic discord, De Croo also criticized Pope Francis’ visit to King Baudouin’s tomb on September 28, an event initially agreed to be a “purely private” affair but later described by De Croo as being “less private than announced.” The Pope had used the occasion to praise Baudouin for his refusal to endorse the legalization of abortion, a move Francis described as courageous.
This isn’t the first time Belgium has clashed with a Pope over sensitive ethical issues. In 2009, following remarks by Pope Benedict XVI on condom use and HIV/AIDS during his visit to Cameroon, the Belgian parliament took the rare step of formally condemning the Pope’s comments, voting 95 to 18 to issue an official protest. At the time, it was believed to be the first instance of a European parliament censuring a Pope.
The latest confrontation between Belgium and the Vatican underscores the complex and sometimes contentious relationship between religion and state in contemporary Europe, particularly in a country like Belgium, which has long prided itself on maintaining a separation between church and state. As Belgium continues to debate abortion laws and other moral issues, this diplomatic row with the Vatican serves as a reminder of the enduring influence of the Catholic Church, even in nations where secularism holds sway.
Thank you for reading our content. If you would like to receive ZENIT’s daily e-mail news, you can subscribe for free through this link.
