Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has summoned the Vatican's ambassador, Archbishop Franco Coppola, following the "unacceptable" comments.

De Croo stressed "Fortunately, the time when the Church dictated laws in our country is long gone".

When addressing Belgium's Chamber of Deputies, De Croo strongly disapproved of the pope's words.

"It is absolutely unacceptable for a foreign head of state to make such statements about democratic decision-making in our country."

Francis' comments

Francis commented to journalists on his flight to Rome following his visit to Belgium.

"Let's not forget to say this: Abortion is murder" the pope said.

"The doctors who take part in this are - allow me to use the word - they're hitmen. They are hitmen. On this point, there's no discussion. A human life is being killed."

Pope's comments "hurtful to women"

The pope's comments, while consistent with previous statements, sparked outrage due to their timing and direct reference to Belgium, where abortion laws have been a contentious topic.

The Belgian parliament is currently debating a proposal to extend abortion access from 12 to 18 weeks of pregnancy.

Belgian officials argue that the Pope's comments may affect ongoing political negotiations, as the country is currently trying to form a coalition government.

Belgium's government has responded with strong opposition. Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden called the Pope's remarks "unnecessarily hurtful to women and care providers".

Similarly, Jan Danckaert, the rector of the Free University of Brussels, wrote an opinion piece denouncing the Pope's statement. He argued that it "not only insults the doctors who perform abortions, but also Belgium and its population".

Pope praises King Baudouin

The Pope's praise of the late King Baudouin of Belgium, who famously refused to sign a 1990 law legalising abortion, further fuelled tensions.

Francis labelled Baudouin a "saint" for refusing to sign the legislation.

However, Baudouin's actions, which Francis lauded as courageous, drew criticism from those who felt the Church was attempting to reassert its influence on Belgian politics.

This abortion controversy adds to ongoing Vatican tensions in Belgium, where the Church has also faced scrutiny over clergy sexual abuse. Survivors and advocates have criticised the Church for its slow response and called for greater accountability.

Sources

Crux Now

The Brussels Times

Politico

CathNews New Zealand

"This is like Nazi Germany" Müller said, according to a blog post by author Rod Dreher.

Müller added that the authorities were acting "like the SA" — Hitler's brownshirts who used violence and intimidation against opponents.

Despite protests and police blockades at the entrances, the National Conservatism conference was earlier allowed to continue.

However, Mayor Emir Kir issued an order to halt the April 16-17 conference.

In a statement, Mayor Kir cited concerns over the conference's conservative stance on issues such as abortion and same-sex unions.

"Among these personalities are several participants, particularly from the right-wing conservative, religious right and the European far right" his statement reads. And: "The extreme right is not welcome".

Belgium's highest court later overturned the decision to shut down the conference, allowing it to continue.

Freedom of expression

The conference, organised by the Edmund Burke Foundation, aims to advocate for conservatism intertwined with national identity and traditions.

The organisers said around 600 participants were expected to attend the event.

Among the notable speakers were Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Brexit proponent Nigel Farage and German aristocrat Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis.

The event has been held in various capitals including Rome, London and Washington DC since its founding in 2019.

Nigel Farage, the controversial British politician, called the attempted shutdown "a disgrace" and accused the EU of becoming the "new form of communism".

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo also condemned the attempted shutdown. He asserted the "ban on political assemblies is unconstitutional".

"Municipal autonomy is a cornerstone of our democracy, but it can never override the Belgian constitution which has guaranteed freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly since 1830″ concluded De Croo.

Belgian lawyer Wouter Vaassen who represents ADF International, a Christian legal group that opposes threats to religious liberty, called the attempt to shut down the controversial conference "unjust". He said it "should never have happened, especially in Brussels—the political heart of Europe".

"We must diligently protect our fundamental freedoms lest censorship become the norm in our supposedly free societies" he added.

Sources

Catholic News Agency

Katholisch

Catholic Herald