André-Joseph Léonard
Encyclopedia
André-Joseph Léonard is a Belgian prelate, the current archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels and thus Primate of Belgium since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI
on 18 January 2010. He had previously served as bishop of Namur
from 1991 until 2010 as André-Mutien Léonard.
, close to Namur
. His father died shortly after his birth during the first days of the German invasion of Belgium
. He is one of four brothers who all became diocesan priests. After his secondary education at the Collège Notre-Dame de la Paix in Namur, Mons. André-Marie Charue, Bishop of Namur sent Léonard to the Seminary Leo XIII in Leuven
, where he earned a master's degree in Philosophy.
.
In 1974 he obtained a doctorate in philosophy from the Catholic University of Louvain
, with a thesis entitled “A literal commentary on the logic of Hegel”. He taught in the philosophy
department of Louvain until 1991. In the late 1980s he became a member of the International Theological Commission
, the consultative organ of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
.
on 7 February 1991 and was consecrated on 14 April of that year by Godfried Cardinal Danneels
. He has been described as a man whose theological vision is in line with Pope Benedict XVI
's.
As Bishop of Namur, Leonard has focused in particular upon youth ministry and the promotion of vocations to the priesthood. His seminary complex, which also includes a Redemptoris Mater
seminary run by the Neocatechumenate, is said to have the largest enrollment in Belgium (where in 2010, 35 of the 71 Belgian seminarians study). Italian Vatican writer Andrea Tornielli reports that Léonard is considered “the most traditional of the Belgian bishops.
When named a bishop, he added the name "Mutien" to his first name André in reference to Brother Mutien-Marie Wiaux
.
Bishop Leonard preached the 1999 Lenten retreat for Pope John Paul II and the Roman Curia
.
Bishop Leonard is known to be friendly to the Traditional Latin/Tridentine Mass
and frequently celebrates it.
Leonard took over from Cardinal Godfried Danneels who opposed key Vatican edicts such as a ban on condoms in AIDS prevention. During his tenure, Belgium legalized euthanasia
and same-sex marriages — two red-flag issues in Rome — and Danneels didn't actively try to slow down the pace of change. Leonard's appointment was seen as a move by Pope Benedict XVI
to energize the country's Roman Catholic faithful and reverse 30 years of liberalism. The appointment was in line with Benedict's policy of putting tradition-minded and conservative bishops in important dioceses.
When named archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, he choose to drop "Mutien" and instead appended "Joseph" to his name, in reference to Saint Joseph
, patron saint of Belgium.
On January 5, 2011 he was appointed among the first members of the newly created Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation
. The Council is tasked with renewing the evangelisation of those areas of the world, especially the West, which are hit hardest by secularisation. The nomination has been seen as an affirmation of his leadership by the Vatican.
, retired and admitted that for years he had abused a nephew. In June 2010, police raided both the palace of the archbishop and the home of retired Archbishop Godfried Danneels. The offices of an independent commission set up by the new archbishop Leonard in early 2010 to look into cases of sexual abuse were also raided. At the time, Archbishop Leonard said the move showed that the Church wanted to "resolutely turn a page on a very painful" topic. There was no suggestion Leonard was involved in a coverup (having been in the office for half a year), but his subsequent defense of retired pedophile priests was seen as unnecessarily provocative.
The raids were not well received by the Catholic Church even raising the ire of the Pope. Pope Benedict XVI
in a letter addressed to Archbishop Leonard said that: "At this sad moment, I express my special closeness and solidarity to you, dear Brother Bishops, and all the bishops of the Church in Belgium, the surprising and deplorable manner in which searches were conducted in the Cathedral of Malines and See where he met the Belgian episcopate in a plenary session that, among other things, would treat issues relating to abuse of minors by clergy members. I myself have repeatedly stressed that this Ordinance be treated without serious civil and canon law
, while respecting mutual specificity and autonomy. Thus I hope that justice take its course, to guarantee fundamental rights of individuals and institutions, while respecting the victims, without preconditions, in recognition of those committed to work with it and rejection of everything that obscures the noble tasks assigned to it."
, a Catholic, also condemned him. In late 2010, a man ran up to the archbishop during a service at Brussels' main cathedral and shoved a cherry pie in his face.
was facing one of the longest and most intense political crises in its 178 years of existence.
After the Belgian general election of 2007
, Belgium entered a period of communitarian tensions and political instability
, mostly caused by the different opinions about the need and the extent of a state reform.
In 9 July 2008, Bishop Léonard published an open letter on the website of the Diocese of Namur entitled The end of Belgium? . He wrote that Belgium will not fall apart:
Bishop Léonard asked Walloons
and French-speaking inhabitants of Brussels
to renounce their superiority complex
of the French language against Dutch-speaking Belgians. Bishop Léonard himself is a proficient speaker of Dutch.
The letter was published the same month in the Dutch Catholic magazine Katholiek Nieuwsblad.
As a consequence, he was charged with homophobia under Belgium's 2003 Anti-Discrimination Act, after gay activists have said he sought to “stigmatize” homosexuals
. Due to the criticisms that followed his interview, Bishop Léonard quickly clarified that it is their behaviour that is abnormal, not their very person.
In April 2009, the Belgian courts ruled that Bishop's comments were not severe enough to be considered slander or discrimination.
"Homosexuality is not the same as normal sex in the same way that anorexia is not a normal appetite," says the new Archbishop of Brussels. Shortly after his appointment Archbishop Léonard's comments were made in an interview with a Belgian television station. He added that he would "never call anorexia patients abnormal."
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
on 18 January 2010. He had previously served as bishop of Namur
Roman Catholic Diocese of Namur
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Namur is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Belgium. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussel.-Bishops of Namur since 1802:*Claude de Bexon...
from 1991 until 2010 as André-Mutien Léonard.
Early life
Léonard was born on 6 May 1940 in JambesJambes
Jambes is a Walloon town in southern Belgium, in the province of Namur. Since 1977 it has been part of the city of Namur.Jambes is known for the former Géronsart Abbey, the 13th century Enhaive or Anhaive keep , the old bridge on the Meuse River and the seat of the Government of Wallonia...
, close to Namur
Namur (city)
Namur is a city and municipality in Wallonia, in southern Belgium. It is both the capital of the province of Namur and of Wallonia....
. His father died shortly after his birth during the first days of the German invasion of Belgium
Battle of Belgium
The Battle of Belgium or Belgian Campaign formed part of the greater Battle of France, an offensive campaign by Germany during the Second World War...
. He is one of four brothers who all became diocesan priests. After his secondary education at the Collège Notre-Dame de la Paix in Namur, Mons. André-Marie Charue, Bishop of Namur sent Léonard to the Seminary Leo XIII in Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, where he earned a master's degree in Philosophy.
Academic career
He continued his studies in Rome at the Pontifical Belgian College, where he graduated in theology. He was ordained priest on 19 July 1964 by Bishop Charue. He went to Rome, where he earned a license in theology at the Pontifical Gregorian UniversityPontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
.
In 1974 he obtained a doctorate in philosophy from the Catholic University of Louvain
Université catholique de Louvain
The Université catholique de Louvain, sometimes known, especially in Belgium, as UCL, is Belgium's largest French-speaking university. It is located in Louvain-la-Neuve and in Brussels...
, with a thesis entitled “A literal commentary on the logic of Hegel”. He taught in the philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
department of Louvain until 1991. In the late 1980s he became a member of the International Theological Commission
International Theological Commission
The International Theological Commission of the Roman Catholic Church consists of up to 30 Catholic theologians from around the world. These theologians are appointed for renewable five year terms and have tended to meet together in person once every year for a week...
, the consultative organ of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , previously known as the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition , and after 1904 called the Supreme...
.
Episcopal career
He was appointed bishop of NamurRoman Catholic Diocese of Namur
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Namur is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Belgium. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussel.-Bishops of Namur since 1802:*Claude de Bexon...
on 7 February 1991 and was consecrated on 14 April of that year by Godfried Cardinal Danneels
Godfried Cardinal Danneels
Godfried Maria Jules Danneels is a Belgian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels and the chairman of the episcopal conference of his native country from 1979 to 2010. He was elevated to the cardinalate in 1983...
. He has been described as a man whose theological vision is in line with Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
's.
As Bishop of Namur, Leonard has focused in particular upon youth ministry and the promotion of vocations to the priesthood. His seminary complex, which also includes a Redemptoris Mater
Redemptoris Mater
Redemptoris Mater is the name for certain Roman Catholic seminaries which operate under the auspices of the Neocatechumenal Way and claim as their mission the formation of priests for the "New Evangelization". These seminaries are distributed worldwide, with nearly 1,500 seminarians currently in...
seminary run by the Neocatechumenate, is said to have the largest enrollment in Belgium (where in 2010, 35 of the 71 Belgian seminarians study). Italian Vatican writer Andrea Tornielli reports that Léonard is considered “the most traditional of the Belgian bishops.
When named a bishop, he added the name "Mutien" to his first name André in reference to Brother Mutien-Marie Wiaux
Mutien-Marie Wiaux
Saint Mutien-Marie Wiaux was a Belgian member of the Brothers of Christian Schools. He was born Louis Wiaux, the third of six children, in French-speaking Belgium to a devout Catholic family...
.
Bishop Leonard preached the 1999 Lenten retreat for Pope John Paul II and the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
.
Bishop Leonard is known to be friendly to the Traditional Latin/Tridentine Mass
Tridentine Mass
The Tridentine Mass is the form of the Roman Rite Mass contained in the typical editions of the Roman Missal that were published from 1570 to 1962. It was the most widely celebrated Mass liturgy in the world until the introduction of the Mass of Paul VI in December 1969...
and frequently celebrates it.
Primate of Belgium
On January 18, 2010, he was appointed Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, replacing the retiring Cardinal Danneels, considered one of the most liberal bishops in Europe. Leonard announced that he had three priorities for his term: vocations, liturgy and a genuine concern for social issues.Leonard took over from Cardinal Godfried Danneels who opposed key Vatican edicts such as a ban on condoms in AIDS prevention. During his tenure, Belgium legalized euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
and same-sex marriages — two red-flag issues in Rome — and Danneels didn't actively try to slow down the pace of change. Leonard's appointment was seen as a move by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
to energize the country's Roman Catholic faithful and reverse 30 years of liberalism. The appointment was in line with Benedict's policy of putting tradition-minded and conservative bishops in important dioceses.
When named archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, he choose to drop "Mutien" and instead appended "Joseph" to his name, in reference to Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph is a figure in the Gospels, the husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ ....
, patron saint of Belgium.
On January 5, 2011 he was appointed among the first members of the newly created Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation
Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation
The Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization is a dicastery of the Roman Curia whose creation was announced by Pope Benedict XVI at vespers on 28 June 2010, eve of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul...
. The Council is tasked with renewing the evangelisation of those areas of the world, especially the West, which are hit hardest by secularisation. The nomination has been seen as an affirmation of his leadership by the Vatican.
Initial Reception
- In respose to his appointment, Deputy Prime Minister Laurette OnkelinxLaurette OnkelinxLaurette A.J. Onkelinx is a Belgian politician from the Francophone Socialist Party. She is the Minister of Social Affairs and Public Health in the Belgian federal government, i.e., the Van Rompuy I Government, which took office on 30 December 2008.-Biography:Born to Gaston Onkelinx and Germaine...
, who is also the country’s health minister, said, “Church and State are separate in Belgium, but when there are problems in our society, all the social partners sit down around a table, including representatives of secularism and of religion. Cardinal Danneels was a man of openness, of tolerance and was able to fit in there. Archbishop Léonard has already regularly challenged decisions made by our parliament.” She added: “Concerning AIDS, he’s against the use of condoms even while people are dying from it every day. He is against abortion and euthanasia ... The pope’s choice could undermine the compromise that allows us to live together with respect for everyone.”
- The Socialist Party said it “insists that Archbishop Léonard respects democratic decisions taken by the institutions of our country. For the Socialist Party, the rights and duties that people take on democratically take precedence over religious traditions and commandments, without any exception.”.
- A recent opinion poll among priests in Belgium revealed some unorthodox trends among that country’s clergy and little support for Archbishop Leonard. The results, as published by the daily newspaper De Standaard, are listed below:
- Statement: It should be possible for women to become priests? Yes: 68.7%; No: 14.0%; No opinion: 17.3%
- Statement: Mandatory celibacy should be abolished? Yes: 73.3%; No: 15.6%; No opinion: 11.1%
- Statement: Are you nostalgic for the leadership of Cardinal Danneels? Yes: 31.3%; No: 44.4%; Don’t know: 24.3%
- Statement: The Belgian Church is in crisis? Yes: 77.8%; No: 13.2%; No opinion: 9.0%
- Statement: Are you on the same line as Archbishop Léonard? Yes: 15.6%; No: 69.1%; No opinion: 15.3%
Sex Abuse Crisis
In April 2010, the then-Bishop of Bruges, Roger VangheluweRoger Vangheluwe
Roger Joseph Vangheluwe is the former Bishop of Bruges. He gained notoriety after admitting to having sexually abused two nephews over the course of a 15-year period while serving first as a priest and then as bishop, though the admission came after the statute of limitations for the crimes had...
, retired and admitted that for years he had abused a nephew. In June 2010, police raided both the palace of the archbishop and the home of retired Archbishop Godfried Danneels. The offices of an independent commission set up by the new archbishop Leonard in early 2010 to look into cases of sexual abuse were also raided. At the time, Archbishop Leonard said the move showed that the Church wanted to "resolutely turn a page on a very painful" topic. There was no suggestion Leonard was involved in a coverup (having been in the office for half a year), but his subsequent defense of retired pedophile priests was seen as unnecessarily provocative.
The raids were not well received by the Catholic Church even raising the ire of the Pope. Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
in a letter addressed to Archbishop Leonard said that: "At this sad moment, I express my special closeness and solidarity to you, dear Brother Bishops, and all the bishops of the Church in Belgium, the surprising and deplorable manner in which searches were conducted in the Cathedral of Malines and See where he met the Belgian episcopate in a plenary session that, among other things, would treat issues relating to abuse of minors by clergy members. I myself have repeatedly stressed that this Ordinance be treated without serious civil and canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
, while respecting mutual specificity and autonomy. Thus I hope that justice take its course, to guarantee fundamental rights of individuals and institutions, while respecting the victims, without preconditions, in recognition of those committed to work with it and rejection of everything that obscures the noble tasks assigned to it."
Temperament
Leonard is seen as principled although also outspoken, confrontational, and, at times, rash requiring that he later re-explain or retract earlier statements. Leonard's views and the way he delivers them so stridently — although mirroring Catholic doctrine - have riled the Catholic base. Two of Belgium's ten bishops have publicly challenged him and Belgian Premier Yves LetermeYves Leterme
Yves Camille Désiré Leterme is a Flemish Belgian politician, a leader of the Christian Democratic and Flemish party , and the 48th Prime Minister of Belgium.Leterme was the Prime Minister of Belgium from March 2008 to December 2008...
, a Catholic, also condemned him. In late 2010, a man ran up to the archbishop during a service at Brussels' main cathedral and shoved a cherry pie in his face.
- In November 2010 it was announced that Archbishop Leonard's spokesman, Juergen Mettepenningen, was quitting the job only three months after joining the archbishop's office. Mettepenningen said that "Monsignor Leonard at times acts like a motorist driving on the wrong side of a freeway who thinks all the other motorists are wrong," Mettepenningen said at a press conference. He said the archbishop had promised him he would avoid statements to the media but had failed to keep the pledge. "A lack of trust means that I neither wish nor want to continue working as Monsignor Leonard's spokesman," he said.
- In December 2010, speaking at a parliamentary commission on child abuse in Belgium, Leonard's predecessor Cardinal Danneels (who had been archbishop from 1979 until 2010 during which revelations about the sexual abuse crisis first became public) admitting his mistakes, stated "for too long the church thought only about itself and about its priests and now it is time to think about the victims of sexual abuse". When Leonard was asked about whether the Catholic Church would contribute to a general compensation fund set up for victims of sexual abuse (including those not abused by Catholic priests), he refused stating that "The civil court must determine the compensation and the offender must pay." The Commission was surprised as they thought that Leonard would build on Danneels' testimony and use the opportunity to try and heal the poor relations between the government and the Catholic Church over the sex abuse crisis. Leonard added that he expected representatives of other "respectable professions," like medicine and sports, to contribute as well "because abuse is not a monopoly of the church." The day after appearing before the commission, tempering his position, Leonard announced that he would voluntarily donate to a "solidarity fund" to compensate victims of sexual abuse "not because we are obliged to do that, but because we want to show solidarity, as we also regularly do for victims of floods or epidemics."
- In October 2010, Archbishop Leonard was criticised by HIV activists, gay advocates, and political party operatives for stating that he rejects the notion that AIDSAIDSAcquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
is "a punishment from God," instead "this epidemic is sort of intrinsic justice, not at all a punishment." He continued saying that "All I'm saying is that sometimes there are consequences linked to our actions" and that "HIV carriers merit respect" and "must not suffer discrimination." "I believe this is a totally decent, honourable and respectable stance."
- Leonard said that retired priests suspected of paedophilia should be spared canonicalCanon lawCanon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
action (removal from the priesthood or defrockingDefrockingTo defrock, unfrock, or laicize ministers or priests is to remove their rights to exercise the functions of the ordained ministry. This may be due to criminal convictions, disciplinary matters, or disagreements over doctrine or dogma...
), which he termed "a sort of vengeance." Priests who abused children in their care, Leonard went on television to say, must be made aware of what they did, "but if they're no longer working, if they have no responsibilities, I'm not sure that exercising a sort of vengeance that will have no concrete result is humane." On 31 September 2010, the bishop of Antwerp, Johan BonnyJohan BonnyJohan Jozef Bonny is the 22nd Bishop of Antwerpen, Belgium.- Biography :Johan Bonny was born in Moere in 1955. He is the oldest of five children from a farmer's family. He is the son of Gustaaf Bonny and Marie-Jeanne Lootens. He went through primary school in Eernegem and Moere...
, said this was "a personal point of view" and not that of the church. Leonard then went public after All Saints Day mass to say he had been misunderstood and that he believed paedophile priests should be sent before justice. Leonard's position is in agreement with current Vatican practice. The Vatican admits it has no tolerance for pedophiles, but rarely subjects elderly pedophile priests to full canonical trials, instead telling them to live out their years in prayer and penance.
Belgian political crisis of 2007-08
In 2007, BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
was facing one of the longest and most intense political crises in its 178 years of existence.
After the Belgian general election of 2007
Belgian general election, 2007
The 2007 Belgian general election took place on Sunday 10 June 2007. Voters went to the polls in order to elect new members for the Chamber of Representatives and Senate.Eligible voters were Belgian citizens 18 years and older...
, Belgium entered a period of communitarian tensions and political instability
2007–2008 Belgian political crisis
The 2007–2011 Belgian political crisis is an enduring period of tense communal relations and political instability in Belgium rooted in the differing opinions on state reform, and in the continued existence of the controversial electoral district of Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde...
, mostly caused by the different opinions about the need and the extent of a state reform.
In 9 July 2008, Bishop Léonard published an open letter on the website of the Diocese of Namur entitled The end of Belgium? . He wrote that Belgium will not fall apart:
Bishop Léonard asked Walloons
Walloons
Walloons are a French-speaking people who live in Belgium, principally in Wallonia. Walloons are a distinctive community within Belgium, important historical and anthropological criteria bind Walloons to the French people. More generally, the term also refers to the inhabitants of the Walloon...
and French-speaking inhabitants of Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
to renounce their superiority complex
Superiority complex
Superiority complex refers to an exaggerated feeling of being superior to others. The term was coined by Alfred Adler , as part of his School of Individual psychology...
of the French language against Dutch-speaking Belgians. Bishop Léonard himself is a proficient speaker of Dutch.
The letter was published the same month in the Dutch Catholic magazine Katholiek Nieuwsblad.
Homosexuality
In an April 2007 interview for the weekly Télé Moustique, Léonard was asked about his position on homosexuality and described homosexual behaviour as “abnormal”.As a consequence, he was charged with homophobia under Belgium's 2003 Anti-Discrimination Act, after gay activists have said he sought to “stigmatize” homosexuals
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. Due to the criticisms that followed his interview, Bishop Léonard quickly clarified that it is their behaviour that is abnormal, not their very person.
In April 2009, the Belgian courts ruled that Bishop's comments were not severe enough to be considered slander or discrimination.
"Homosexuality is not the same as normal sex in the same way that anorexia is not a normal appetite," says the new Archbishop of Brussels. Shortly after his appointment Archbishop Léonard's comments were made in an interview with a Belgian television station. He added that he would "never call anorexia patients abnormal."