Victim Seeks Truth as Pope Francis Visits Belgium

The visit of Pope Francis to Belgium this week is overshadowed by the dark legacy of Catholic child abuse, but there is another troubling issue that has emerged: the forced adoption of newborns, a scandal involving the complicity of nuns. This practice, which took place primarily between 1945 and 1980, saw many newborns taken from their mothers, often without their consent, leaving a trail of heartache and unanswered questions.

Lieve Soens, a 50-year-old woman, is one of the many victims of this system. Born in Dunkirk, France, she was adopted by a Belgian couple shortly after her birth in 1974. Her biological mother, a teenager at the time, was taken by nuns from Lommel, Belgium, to Dunkirk to give birth under a system known as giving birth “under X.” This system effectively erased any connection between mother and child, leaving many mothers believing their babies had died. Soens is now on a quest to understand her origins and the circumstances surrounding her adoption.

With the help of a victim support group, Soens managed to locate her birth mother in Flanders, Belgium. However, her attempt to meet was met with rejection, as her mother declined the offer through a lawyer. Soens speculated, “Maybe she is afraid.” The trauma of being told her baby was dead and the stigma of being a young, unmarried mother likely contributed to her mother’s reluctance to reconnect.

The issue of forced adoptions has gained more attention recently, particularly after the Flemish newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws published testimonies from multiple victims. Their investigation revealed that Belgian nuns were involved in approximately 30,000 forced adoptions during the specified period. Many of these cases involved young women, some victims of rape or incest, whose families sought to keep their pregnancies a secret. The Church played a significant role in facilitating these adoptions, connecting desperate families with those wishing to adopt.

In response to the growing outcry, the Belgian conference of bishops has issued formal apologies on several occasions, acknowledging the pain caused by these actions. They have expressed a willingness to cooperate with an external investigation to ensure accountability, but as of now, no such investigation has taken place.

Soens, who had the support of her adoptive parents throughout her life, has intensified her search for the truth since their passing two decades ago. She stated, “I don’t want to hurt anyone, I just want the truth,” while also expressing her anger towards the Church and the institutions involved in her adoption. Her story is a poignant reminder of the lasting impact of these forced adoptions on individuals and families.

As Pope Francis prepares to address the Belgian nation at Laeken Palace, the stories of victims like Soens serve as a crucial reminder of the need for transparency and accountability within the Church. The legacy of forced adoptions and child abuse is a heavy burden that many still carry, and it is essential for society to acknowledge these injustices. Only through understanding and addressing the past can healing begin, allowing victims to reclaim their narratives and find peace.