The Vatican has deemed incompetent Br René Stockman, (68), the Superior General of the Brothers of Charity in Rome and has removed him from all his administrative functions. Stockman is accused of not managing the Religious Congregation properly, of a lack of financial transparency and long-term vision. While Stockman remains Superior General of the Brothers Read more
The Vatican has stripped 15 of the Belgian Brothers of Charity psychiatric institutions of their Catholic status because euthanasia was permitted on their premises. Brother Rene Stockman, superior general of the Brothers of Charity, says the brothers had “no choice but to remain faithful” to their “charism of charity, which cannot be reconciled with the Read more
The Belgian Brothers of Charity have not reappointed two pro-euthanasia board members who allowed a protocol that allowed hospitals owned by the religious congregation to perform euthanasia in limited circumstances. Read more
The superior general of the Brothers of Charity order has sued two of its Belgian members for misuse of one million euros over the Belgian province’s decision to allow euthanasia at its psychiatric hospitals there. The accused brothers have denied the order’s charge that they misused the province’s funds. They say the province had agreed Read more
The board administering Belgian hospitals sponsored by the Brothers of Charity has been summoned to Rome. The board – made up mainly of lay members – recently decided to allow euthanasia in the Catholic hospitals it oversees. After appeals from the religious order, board members have been asked to explain their decision to Church authorities Read more
The Belgian Brothers of Charity are saying they may withdraw their sponsorship of 15 Belgian hospitals after the hospital board voted to ignore a Vatican demand not to perform euthanasia at their facilities. The head of the order, Brother René Stockman, says the Brothers would remain faithful to the Church’s teaching, despite serious civil pressure Read more
Belgian Brothers of Charity will continue offering euthanasia to the mental health patients they care for, despite being ordered by the Vatican to stop by the end of August. Raf De Rycke, who is the head of the province’s board of directors, says the order’s leadership has not been able to resolve the dispute, which Read more
Belgium’s Catholic bishops have made a strong statement opposing euthanasia. They are responding to complaints that several Belgian Brothers of Charity-run psychiatric hospitals say euthanasia is allowed in its institutions. The Brothers care for about 5,000 psychiatric patients in Belgium. While acknowledging the pain a person suffering from a psychiatric illness can experience, it is Read more
A board governing several Belgian Catholic psychiatric hospitals says it will to start performing euthanasia in its institutions. But the religious brothers who operate the hospitals say the policy change is unacceptable and cannot be implemented. The Brothers of Charity, who oppose euthanasia, are responsible for 15 psychiatric hospitals. Between them they care for 5,000 Read more