Pedophile scandals or sexual abuse of minors in the Catholic church undermine the belief in the diet of the Catholic religion.
Charles Evers, a victim of abuse by a Catholic priest, had converted to Islam and changed his name to Yusuf. "Catholicism is a terrible belief" he said. Report of Tijn Sadée en Robert Chesal.
Something's not right. Isn't Islam the notorious religion? With a caricature in the newspaper De Standard, Marec has created an unpleasant caricature for the Catholic community. On television it says: the bishop is the incarnation of all the hidden sexual abuse scandals. Sitting on a chair, a Muslim couple accused Christianity of being a cruel religion.
To Mook
With the same bitterness, Yusuf Charles Evers, 59, followed the news of a sexual abuse scandal within the Catholic church. “What happened is terrible. But I have long concluded that Catholicism is wrong. " he said.
When he was twelve years old, Evers was sent by his parents to Gabriël College in Mook, Limburg. Now he lives in Dubai and has his own company selling traditional Islamic clothing. In 1992 he converted to Islam and changed his name to Yusuf. For the first time he talked about his youth at Mook.
Korban
"Father who teaches Latin, one day asked if I could help him bring some books. I have to take it to the warehouse. When I entered, the priest closed the door. Strange. I don't know anything about sex. Then he said: "Come on, come on" and he took my hand and put my hand over his genitals. I felt something thick wet on my hands and I was disgusted. When I came out of the barn, several children stood outside and laughed at me. They said: "Now you are the victim."
Yusuf Evers' testimony is seen as unique in the debate about pedophile religious leaders, which until now has not been interfered with by Muslims. While people seem to be waiting for Muslim voices, reads the disguised message by cartoonist Marec. The anti-Islamic party propaganda supports a society based on Christian values, and does not give place to Islam. But: is that trust not broken after the recent sexual scandals?
Guilt Questions
"Don't kid yourself" said professor Sami Zemni, an expert on Islamic politics at the University of Gent. “If the clergy cause a scandal, the church institute will fall, but Christianity is still safe. On the contrary: if a Muslim is doing something wrong, and the phobias of Islam call out Islam is wrong as a whole and Al-Quran must be burned. "
Zemni does not agree that the pedophile scandal will change the image that Islam is cruel and Christianity is civilized. “I think this debate will end with a guilt question. The Church will take matters into account and cover up accusations, as it always has done.
Devil
"Indeed, what is happening in the Catholic church is very concerning, but we do not want to be linked" so argued a famous priest from Belgium who refused to give an opinion for the writing of this article. Also some Muslim youths, who were educated as Catholics but converted to Islam, refused to comment. But there are exceptions:
“What do people like that call in your religion? " asked a young Moroccan on the streets of Brussels when shown the above cartoon. "Oh yes, bishop." A friend next to him said, “Your Pope is sent by Satan. He has the face of a devil. "
Cruelty Everywhere
"It is logical for Muslims to hold back, because Muslims here do not believe in the media." So was Abdelkhalak Chrayah, of the Muslim emancipation union of Brussels.
Chrayah was in shock hearing this whole sexual harassment case. “I myself am a father. Just thinking about the children being abused makes my legs weak. I can not stand it. But I must emphasize here: every religion must have its cruelty. Each has weaknesses. "
Burn the School
Decades after his emigration to Dubai, Yusuf Evers visited his family in the Netherlands, and passed by his old school building in Mook. “I have often dreamed of burning this building. But now the building has been demolished. Only the front building was still standing. I would love to destroy it with my own hands. "
She never told her parents about the sexual harassment she experienced. "They definitely don't want to hear it either."
So she faced the trauma alone. “I can still clearly remember that I had to report the incident to the pater's leader. I entered the room without knocking on the door and was surprised by what I saw: the priest was sitting on the table with his legs wide apart, and a priest was giving him oral sex. "
Yusuf's experience made him a convert. "Yes, of course. When I think back to Gabriël College my whole body shivers. It is a terrible belief. " (Radio Netherlands). *
