If we compare the figures for 2023 with those for 2016, we note in particular that the total number of priests increased from 4,979 to 3,441, the number of baptisms from 50,867 to 34,826 and the number of people present at the mass on the third Sunday in October from 286,400 to 167,400. In percentage terms, the falls therefore vary between 30 and 40% in the space of seven years.
Note that the so-called popular faith has not deserted the country. The great Marian sanctuaries (Scherpenheuvel in the lead, followed by Banneux, Oostakker and Beauraing) welcomed 1,625,000 visitors. Also in 2023, 20,000 Belgians undertook a journey to Medjugorje, a sanctuary located in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Pope Francis’ two trips to Belgium: one with civil society, the other with the Catholic faithful
Another face
Despite the main declining figures, and despite “the dark pages” devoted to monitoring the file of sexual abuse committed within the Church, this report “presents many signs of hope”written in the introduction by Mgr Terlinden, Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels. “This edition particularly highlights the rich and diverse contribution of lay volunteers.” and the variety of activities dedicated to young people. Between the lines, we perceive the face that the bishops intend to give to the Church in Belgium: no longer that of an institution which aims for societal hegemony, but that of a “community” who wants to be “close to people, who accompanies people and witnesses with gestures of mercy”in the words of Pope Francis during his visit to Brussels.
The year 2023 marks a record for the number of debaptizations
In 2023, 14,251 people requested to be removed from the baptismal register, we can read in the annual report of the Catholic Church. This figure is notable. If, in 2021, 5,237 people had requested “rebaptization” (following, in particular, the publication of the Ciase report on sexual abuse in France), the average for recent years is around 1,200 or 1,400 requests per year.
The Church does not detail the profile of these 14,251 applicants, except that 98% of them are Dutch-speaking or from Brussels. The increase in requests in 2023 is therefore undoubtedly largely explained by the excitement caused by the broadcast, on VRT, of the documentary “Godvergeten” (“The Forgotten by God”). He gave voice for the first time, in front of the camera, to many victims.
“From what I see, the majority of people who asked that their names be removed from the baptismal registers had already moved away from the institution”analyzes Rik Torfs, canonist at KULeuven. It is therefore not the beating heart of the Church which is touched by these requests. “Indirectly, however, this weakens the position of the Church, which is highly criticized within Flemish society.”
The Catholic Church launches a “reinforced” action plan against sexual abuse
In the eyes of the canonist, the Pope’s visit, on the issue of abuse, was well received, as was the institution’s “reinforced” plan to fight against these abuses. But in addition to the victims and their loved ones, injured for life, “There will inevitably remain people for whom the Church will never do enough, so deep is their resentment towards an institution which was for a long time too hegemonic within Flemish society. Collectively, Flanders experiences a kind of postponed pain towards the Church. She was hurt by it decades ago, and can only express it now. For Catholics, the challenge is therefore to respond to this question of abuse, while proposing a positive message that goes beyond this single issue.”
Note that there could be more French-speaking requests for debaptization in 2024. After the comments made in Belgium on abortion by Pope Francis, more than 520 French speakers (including a majority of women) communicated that they had requested to be debaptized registers. At the beginning of October, the Secular Action Center (Cal) also relaunched its page offering information on the debaptization process.
Related News :