The case is painful and complex. Quentin (not his real name), who is a priest, falls in love with a parishioner, Eva (not his real name). In March 2016, Eva became pregnant. She does not want to have an abortion.
Quentin contacts a CPAS in the Brussels region so that he can explain to Eva the options open to her. Quentin ensures that this contact is covered by professional secrecy.
Eva will give birth under X in France and will entrust the child for adoption.
In his parish, Quentin will be approached by a parishioner, employed in the municipality to which the CPAS he contacted depends, explaining to him that she has learned that he is the biological father of a child.
The information reached the ears of a couple of influential parishioners who, after confronting Quentin, informed Mgr Jozef De Kesel of Quentin’s paternity.
A former priest believes that his hierarchy revealed his intimate life and is suing him
A fatal sequence for Quentin
It is then April 8, 2019. And everything is rushing. Quentin was summoned to the archbishopric on April 11. He is suspended. On April 14, Quentin was unable to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass. He is replaced by another priest.
At the end of the celebration, Mgr Kockerols makes a statement. He explains that Father Quentin had committed acts, some time ago, which are not compatible with his clerical status and that he admitted it.
Mgr Kockerols then adds: “I would like to point out very explicitly, to avoid any ambiguity, that the alleged facts do not relate to acts of sexual abuse of minors.”
For Quentin’s lawyer, Me Cédric Vergauwen, who had pleaded before the council chamber, by revealing information which had been given to them in the context of their function, the two clergymen thus violated their professional secrecy.
And, by suggesting that it was sexual abuse of an adult – which was not the case – they were guilty of defamation.
For the council chamber, both Mgr De Kesel and Mgr Kockerols should have known that such public allusions or insinuations would have detrimental consequences for Quentin.
The council chamber therefore followed the argument of Me Vergauwen, against the opinion of the prosecution which, like the defense of the two ecclesiastics, supported the dismissal of the case.
The double life of Father Bernard, incarcerated after a fatal “chemsex” session
Reduced to the secular state
In November 2019, a procedure for reduction to the secular state was opened against Quentin. It will be completed in February 2021.
Quentin and Eva have reconnected: they are now married. They had a son and a daughter. Quentin found his calling in education.
Their complaint also targeted the president of the CPAS and the couple who had informed Mgr De Kesel. These three people obtained the dismissal of the case.
In theory, this referral order is not subject to appeal. The debates will therefore be held before the Brussels criminal court where the two ecclesiastics will answer, on a date not yet fixed, for defamation and violation of professional secrecy.
