Dutch Priest Belonged to Pedophile Club

May 21st, 2011

Via: New Zealand Herald / AP:

The head of a Catholic religious order in the Netherlands has confirmed one of his subordinate priests served on the board of an organisation that promotes paedophilia.

Herman Spronck, head of the Dutch arm of the Salesian order, said in a statement Friday the priest served on the board of the “Martijn” organization, which is widely reviled but not illegal.

“Of course we reject this and distance ourselves from this personal initiative” on the part of the priest, Spronck’s statement said.

“Membership in such organizations does not fit with the ethos of the Salesian order.”

However, RTL Nieuws, which broke the story, published interviews both with Spronck and the priest, identified as 73-year-old “Father Van B.,” in which they defend some paedophile relationships.

“Society thinks these relationships are harmful. I disagree,” RTL quoted Van B. as saying. He served on Martijn’s board from 2008 until 2010, when the organization’s founder was arrested for alleged possession of child pornography. That case is ongoing.

RTL quoted Spronck as saying that “formally I always say that everyone must obey the law. But these relationships do not necessarily have to be damaging.”

Spronck and his organisation could not be reached for comment.

One Response to “Dutch Priest Belonged to Pedophile Club”

  1. Eileen says:

    I listen to http://www.wyep.org until the signal fades, and then sigh and play http://www.wysu.org (NPR)which was playing the results of this study which was funded by the Catholic Church. Right. That is such independent research. Boggles the mind. Someone who knows how to put their shoes and socks on knows that whenever a study is funded by the one under criticism – it CANNOT BE CALLED SCIENCE.
    In a way it is a shame that everything,and anything must be blessed with scientific study to gain credibility in our world, but this SUCKS.
    OOps. Don’t pedophiles like to suck on toes?
    Sorry.
    Here is the npr THING.
    Listen and weep for the loss of credibility for the leaders of the Catholic Church. Sounds to me like a big giant GRASPING AT STRAWS to maintain their power when they are DONE. TOAST. AS if we didn’t know that already:
    http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/05/18/136429556/study-finds-homosexuality-celibacy-did-not-cause-catholic-sex-abuse-crisis

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