“It is likely that other people were victims of Father Joseph Beckers even if there was no report following a message left for a long time in the basilica as in the other churches of the diocese”stipulates this call, which now specifies the name of this man born in 1950, who had left Val-Dieu in 1995 following a report of the diocese (not relating to acts of sexual assault) and which is “Died a few years ago “.
“If you must have been the victim of Father Joseph, if you were to know of the victims of Father Joseph, do not hesitate to inform the central contact point set up by the Church of Belgium on 02/507 05 93”, concludes this message.
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An assumed decision of the diocese
Éric de Beukelaer, vicar general of the diocese of Liège, sheds light on this approach. “A victim appeared with Father Vladimir and the bishop of Liège. She did not want to go to court, but she wanted to meet them and asked to ensure that if others had been victims of this character, they could be recognized. And that they do not stay with shame and fear.”
As had already been done on the side of Huy in another case, an ad “sober, but factual”dated July 21, 2025, was thus shared in the deanery. “”The reactions are mixed … Some ask how we can do this when there are children in the assembly. But we cannot both tell us: you don’t talk about. And if we talk: you talk about! The kids must not be scared, but it is an interest in being transparent. This is the attitude that the Church of Belgium has chosen, encouraged by the political authorities of the country, and therefore we assume our decision. “
A referent for victims of abuse
Éric de Beukelaer thus recalls that a “Possibility of meeting, support, even compensation” is provided by the Catholic Church of Belgium. A listening line has been in place since 2010. “In recent years, each diocese has also had a reference person who receives complaints, the victims, then who engages the process with the competent authorities “adds Jean-Pierre Deleersnijder, director of the Communication Service of the Diocese of Liège.
“We do not keep things like that in his drawer. We must denounce the abuses and they must be the subject of the same criminal process as any secular person.”
