A great uneasiness is the feeling which dominates after the Pope’s visit to Belgium. On women and abortion, he showed himself to be out of step with a large part of Belgian society, including many Catholics.
Discomfort at the Palace
The Pope’s positions on reproductive health or the place of women are not new. On the contrary, they are part of the long Catholic tradition.
All the popes have recalled the doctrine: they consider abortion to be a crime and women to be determined by nature to be mothers. So we can’t be surprised. And yet, we were. Firstly, the Palace itself. He welcomed the Pope with respect that no other head of state or religious has ever received. But the sovereigns themselves, Catholics, were embarrassed around the edges when the Pope visited the tomb of King Baudouin. Francis emphasized “his courage when he chose to leave his post as King so as not to sign a murderous law“.
Recalling the very controversial refusal of the king to sign the law on abortion, calling into question a law passed more than 30 years ago in the presence of sovereigns, risked endangering the Palace. He felt obliged to publish a press release to highlight the “impromptu nature of this visit“and his”private nature“The sovereigns who were there said that they were present.”as a courtesy“. This communication says a lot about the uneasiness of the Royal Household in the face of these declarations.
Discomfort at UCL
The unease has deepened further at UCL. Invited to speak on refugees or the climate, UCL found points of convergence with the Pope. Fortunately, it was to commemorate the 600 years of the University of Louvain that he was in Belgium.
But for women, it’s a tear. The Pope recalls the position of the Church: it is nature that makes women, not culture. And nature made her a mother, that’s what she is destined for. The Pope summarizes: “The woman is fertile welcome, care, vital devotion“.
The UCL authorities, aware of the Pope’s speech, were able to consult and prepare a press release which was very quickly published while the room was still applauding Francis. Rector Françoise Smet evokes a “major divergence, a misunderstanding about a deterministic and reductive vision of women“.
And the Pope did not at all appreciate this press release from UCL. On the plane home, he felt it was unethical for the university to respond to him in this way, when he had barely finished speaking. In short, the commemoration of the 600 years of the university is marked by a major disagreement.
Gap
Still on the plane, Pope Francis hit the nail on the head. Referring to the beatification of King Baudouin, whom he considers worthy of being a saint, he described as “hitmen” (sicari in Italian) doctors who perform abortions. A vocabulary worthy of a vulgar populist leader.
Ultimately, this visit leaves a mixed feeling, almost of embarrassment, of a Pope out of step with a largely secularized Belgian society. Even for practicing Catholics, attached to respect for life, this visit leaves a bitter taste. Because qualifying doctors who perform abortions as hired killers is a position that is only shared by an ultra-minority and extreme fringe of Belgian Catholics. The worst being thatUltimately, the pope uses stronger words to condemn doctors than to condemn abusive priests. Uncomfortable, to say the least. Indecent, without a doubt.
