Hundreds of sex
abuse victims came forward in Belgium with accounts of molestation
by Catholic clergy that led to at least 13 suicides and affected
children as young as two.
Belgium's Catholic
Church is still reeling after the resignation of Bishop Roger
Vangheluwe, who admitted to sexually abusing a nephew for years
when he was a priest and bishop.
507 witnesses came
forward with stories of molestation at the hands of clergy, those
abused included children who were two to six years
old.
Family members said
13 victims committed suicide that "was related to sexual abuse by
clergy," the report said. Six other witnesses had attempted
suicide.
Boys 'abused'
in Buddhist temple
Three suspects, including a Buddhist monk, are missing
after four under age boys were admitted to a hospital in eastern
Sri Lanka with injuries, police said.
500
child abuse cases
"A group of men has come to the room at night when the child was
sleeping in the monks' quarters. There have been four boys and when
they were abused one boy has run to the junior monk for help but
the monk has asked the boy not to say anything to the parents" -
mother of a victim
The medical report says that they have sustained
physical damage due to forceful sexual abuse.
More than 500 child abuse cases have been reported from
over 420 government and privately maintained children’s homes
around the country in the last six months alone, Department of
Probation and Child Care Services (DPCCS) Commissioner, Sarath
Abeygunawardana has told Daily Mirror online.
