Tuesday, July 02, 2024

Belgian Court Fines Catholic Archbishop and Cardinal for Denying Woman Clergy Training

The Pillar and Catholic News Agency report that a Belgian civil court has fined a Cardinal and an Archbishop each 1500 Euros for refusing to allow a woman to register for training as a deacon in the Catholic Church. Article 10 of Belgium's Constitution provides that "Equality between women and men is guaranteed." In Belgium, the state pays the salaries of clergy, but the Catholic Church reserves holy orders to baptized men. While the court held that the Church should have admitted Veer Dusauchoit for training, it did not address whether the Church would later be required to ordain her.