In a move reflecting the changing public trust in religious institutions, Frederik Delaplace, CEO of the Flemish public broadcaster VRT, recently suggested the network might cease its live broadcasts of Catholic masses.
The proposal comes in the wake of renewed scrutiny of the Catholic Church following further revelations of sexual abuse, a subject starkly highlighted in VRT's own programme, 'Godvergeten.' The documentary focuses on the Brussels police's operation "Chapel", which revealed the extent of sexual misconduct in the Catholic Church in Belgium.
Delaplace's concerns mirror a broader societal disillusionment with the Catholic Church in Belgium. The nation was rocked in 2010 when Roger Vangheluwe, the then-Bishop of Bruges, resigned over confessed sexual misconduct. The former bishop escaped prosecution. The ensuing "Adriaenssens Report" uncovered 475 cases of clerical abuse, sparking national outrage and an ongoing reckoning with the Church's historical authority and trustworthiness.
VRT CEO Frederik Delaplace poses for the photographer during a ceremony to mark the laying of the first stone of the new headquarters of VRT, the Flemish public broadcaster, Wednesday 04 October 2023 in Brussels. Credit: Belga/ Nicolas Maeterlinck
"Given the societal shockwaves and subsequent parliamentary inquiry, can we justify maintaining our regular Sunday broadcasts? It's time for this critical debate," Delaplace told the media, hinting at a significant shift in VRT's programming philosophy.
'Godvergeten,' the documentary series that reignited these discussions, was the subject of some controversy among the management of VRT but was eventually greenlit, Delaplace recounts.
"Despite challenges, the series was created. It's not unusual for quality content to face initial resistance. I am immensely proud of what we've accomplished with 'Godvergeten,' standing as a testament to our commitment to public service broadcasting," he added.
Sexual abuse shockwaves
The issue extends beyond programming, touching on deeper questions about the Church's role in contemporary Belgian society. The Belgian Catholic Church has faced over 700 reports relating to sexual abuse, which has only compounded public disillusionment, spurring a significant rise in de-baptism requests.
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Meanwhile, VRT faces challenges surrounding its own finances. "Our revenue approaches must evolve; we cannot operate under decade-old principles," Delaplace states, acknowledging the broader shifts in media consumption and public expectation.
The impact of the Church sex abuse scandal has also reached beyond the media. Flanders is looking into cutting subsidies from municipal authorities to religious communities such as the Catholic Church, in response to the VRT documentary, putting up to €60 million in religious funding in peril.
