Pastor Sex Abuse Case Starts Dutch trial

Dutch Catholic church leaders have soured with the expression of controversial about sexual harassment, for the first time I had to speak about what he knew about sexual harassment.

Tuesday (01/25) Ad cardinal Simonis should face court in Middelburg, the southwestern Netherlands in the case of this scene. This is the first time the Catholic clergy who hold high positions, have to give testimony about abuse in the Dutch courts.

Case in Middelburg is the lawsuit of a man, 34 years, victims of sexual abuse by priests in January N. which are now elderly.Cases of abuse occur in Terneuzen early 1990s, when the priest in January worked for the diocese of Breda.

Through the testimony of Cardinal Simonis and other church officials, the victim wants to determine whether the diocese liable and negligent in taking steps to prevent sexual harassment.

Pedofili

Last week, the bishop of Breda, Monsignor Hans van den Hende and head of the Salesian Order of the Netherlands Herman Spronck, testified. Spronck acknowledge this Order (first employer pastor Jan) did not inform the diocese of Breda on tantrum pedofili Pastor January

Previously, Pastor Jan, when serving leader Don Bosco youth center in Rijswijk, a serious abuse of boys. He was arrested in 1979 and admitted to having sexually harassed. But after languishing in jail for a week, he came home because of illness.

In 1980, the Hague court prosecutor menseponir this case on parole. It is not clear why. Prosecutor files now been destroyed.

Be blamed

Five years later, Pastor in January to work in Terneuzen, a parish in the diocese of Breda. According to the head of the Salesian Spronck, her order did not say anything to the diocese about past mistakes Pastor January

In 1990 he was on trial for acts not scandalized by some boys.He was sentenced to four-month conditional jail and 160 hours community service.

Testimony Spronck seems to be able to restore the good name of the diocese of Breda. Head monk acknowledge a warning might have prevented the priest back to do the same mistake. 'So to some extent we are also guilty', says Spronck told NOS television about the steps her order.

What is known Simonis?

Now, Cardinal Simonis should give testimony about what he knew about the case earlier in Rijswijk. At that time he served uksup Rotterdam. Rijswijk, including the Diocese of Rotterdam.

The victim's lawyers in this lawsuit, among others, wanted to know what was being said Simonis with Uksup Breda, Huub Monsignor Ernst. Ernst also called as a witness. The purpose of this testimony was to determine whether a civil case against the diocese of Breda, and demand compensation for damages will be successful. [Za / RNW]