Cardinal admits error in handling abuse victim

THE former head of Belgium’s Roman Catholic Church has acknowledged that he should not have held a meeting with a victim of serial sexual abuse and suggested a cover-up until the offending bishop retired.

The April 8 meeting that retired Cardinal Godfried Danneels held was secretly taped by the victim and the conversation was published in two newspapers.

Since the tapes’ publication, Danneels, 77, has faced fierce criticism for his suggestion that the sexual abuse be kept secret and the victim should consider forgiving the bishop, his uncle, as part of seeking closure.