Belgium’s Prime Minister Rebukes Pope Francis Over Abortion Remarks
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has expressed strong disapproval of recent comments made by Pope Francis, in which the pontiff referred to Belgium’s abortion laws as “murderous” during his recent visit to the country.
Speaking to the Belgian parliament, De Croo labeled the remarks as “unacceptable” and revealed that he has summoned the Vatican’s ambassador, known as the apostolic nuncio, for discussions on the matter. “My message to the apostolic nuncio will be very clear: what happened there is unacceptable,” De Croo emphasized.
He further added, “We don’t need lectures on how our democratic processes work. The days when the church dictated laws in this country are thankfully long gone.”
Pope Francis, 87, faced backlash for his comments, which surfaced during his three-day visit to Belgium—a trip already clouded by the shadow of previous sexual abuse scandals within the church. During his stay, the pope also paid homage to the late Belgian King Baudouin, known for his opposition to abortion.
Francis visited Baudouin’s tomb and recalled the monarch’s decision in 1990 to temporarily step down from his role to avoid signing a law that decriminalized abortion. Referring to that legislation, the pope called it “a murderous law” and compared doctors who perform abortions to hired killers.
While Pope Francis has used similar language in the past, his recent statements have sparked outrage in Belgium, particularly as the country is currently in a delicate political situation. Talks of extending the legal window for abortions from 12 to 18 weeks have been a hot topic, with negotiations still underway among political parties following June’s elections.
