Belgium presses Pope on sexual abuse by clergy

Pontiff, in visit to country, gives assurances that global Catholic Church is tackling issue

- 

Pope Francis was pressed by Belgium's king and premier on Sept 27 for more concrete actions to address sexual abuse by the Catholic clergy, an issue that is once more in the spotlight.

Both King Philippe and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo raised the issue in public in unusually forceful language for a papal foreign trip, always a carefully choreographed event.

King Philippe told Pope Francis in a speech welcoming him to Belgium that it has taken the church far too long to address the scandals.

Mr De Croo said it has "a long way to go" and that "words alone are not enough". "Concrete steps must also be taken."

Pope Francis' weekend trip to Belgium is meant to focus on the 600th anniversary of two Catholic universities. But a television documentary series and a parliamentary investigation have brought the church's record on clerical sexual abuse to the fore.