Pope Francis to Open Path to Sainthood for Belgium's King Baudouin who Refused to Sign Abortion into Law
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On September 28, Francis visited the grave of King Baudouin (1930-1993) and praised his courage in opposing a "murderous" law; Baudouin abdicated for 36 hours in 1990 because he refused to sign a law permitting abortion for reasons of conscience.SEE 4:16 Mark on Video below:
At the same time, according to a statement from the Vatican, Francis called on the Belgians to take an example from Baudouin even in the current times when further "criminal laws" have been introduced. He also spoke out in favor of the beatification of the Catholic king.
On the return flight to Rome on September 29th, Francis again described abortions as murder and called doctors who perform them "contract killers". The Pope had already used this choice of words several times, but it apparently sparked a new debate in the Belgian House of Representatives. There, the Prime Minister declared: "It is completely unacceptable for a foreign head of state to make such a speech in relation to the laws of our country." And he continued: "The time when the Church dictated the law is over." In addition, the Pope's visit to the grave of King Baudouin was "purely private," said De Croo.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo called the Pope's pro-life statements "unacceptable" and quoted Vatican ambassador Archbishop Franco Coppola as saying, as the newspaper "La Repubblica" reported on October 4th. "I demand respect for women, who must be able to decide freely about their bodies, without interference from the Church," Belgian Prime Minister De Croo said afterwards at a plenary session of the House of Representatives.
At the same time, according to a statement from the Vatican, Francis called on the Belgians to take an example from Baudouin even in the current times when further "criminal laws" have been introduced. He also spoke out in favor of the beatification of the Catholic king.
On the return flight to Rome on September 29th, Francis again described abortions as murder and called doctors who perform them "contract killers". The Pope had already used this choice of words several times, but it apparently sparked a new debate in the Belgian House of Representatives. There, the Prime Minister declared: "It is completely unacceptable for a foreign head of state to make such a speech in relation to the laws of our country." And he continued: "The time when the Church dictated the law is over." In addition, the Pope's visit to the grave of King Baudouin was "purely private," said De Croo.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo called the Pope's pro-life statements "unacceptable" and quoted Vatican ambassador Archbishop Franco Coppola as saying, as the newspaper "La Repubblica" reported on October 4th. "I demand respect for women, who must be able to decide freely about their bodies, without interference from the Church," Belgian Prime Minister De Croo said afterwards at a plenary session of the House of Representatives.
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