Contacted, Nathalie Milio, spokesperson for Johan Bonny, bishop of Antwerp, expressed her indignation and disbelief. “Like all staff members and worshippers, he was very shocked. The diocese was not informed and was in fact unaware of anything. This is a very strange story, about which we have not received any information. The bishop knows Bernard well and knows that he does a good job in the parish and that everyone had a good opinion of him. So we didn’t expect that. We must now wait for the investigation“, explains Nathalie Milio.
Priest arrested for drug trafficking leading to death of one of his colleagues: “They had taken ecstasy and had sex”
The Bishop of Antwerp is therefore awaiting the decision of the council chamber and the court before starting any procedure. “Once again, we are not investigating magistrates and we must first learn from the court what exactly happened. Based on this information and findings, we can then make a judgment and pursue the case further. As an ecclesiastical authority, it would not be correct to make judgments based on newspaper articles.”she adds.
This affair has gone around the world since the revelations published by Gazet Van Antwerpen last weekend. The suspect contacted emergency services during the night from Thursday to Friday after his colleague who came to visit him felt unwell, supposedly on the sidelines of the Pope’s visit to Belgium. Emergency services attempted to resuscitate the victim, without success. Called to the scene, the police, the scientific laboratory and the forensic doctor carried out the first findings and discovered traces of narcotics on the body.
During his three days in Belgium, “the Pope will stay in my room”: the small team of the nunciature is preparing to welcome him to Woluwe-Saint-Pierre
Chaplain in two French-speaking scout groups in Antwerp
Andrew W. was the priest of the English-speaking community of Antwerp for many years. The man had returned to the UK after retiring. For his part, Father Bernard became a priest at 34 years old. Before that, he worked in the insurance sector. He is described by the faithful as “exemplary” in his mission as a priest. He was active in ten municipalities (five in Essen and five in Kalmthout), and chaplain in two French-speaking scout groups in Antwerp.
The Abbé Pierre affair only “strengthens the determination of the bishops of Belgium to have a policy to fight against this scourge”
Father Bernard, prosecuted for “drug trade resulting in death“, will appear this Thursday before the council chamber which will decide, or not, whether he remains in detention for the next thirty days.
