Operation chalice
January 2000
Halsberghe commission
March 2010
Adriaenssens commission
April 23, 2010
The danneels tapes force the church into a public confession.
June 4, 2010
Priest devillé reports more than 1,000 cases of sexual abuse to the federal judicial police.
June 21, 2010
Start of the judicial investigation “operation chalice”
June 24, 2010
Raids at saint rumbold’s cathedral, the archbishop’s palace, and the residence and offices of cardinal danneels in mechelen. 931 boxes of documents are seized.
September 9, 2010
The chamber of indictment (KIB) rules to annul the seizures and declares the raids of june 24, 2010 invalid.
October 12, 2010
The court of cassation overturns the KIB ruling, arguing that the victims had been unlawfully excluded from the hearing.
March 8, 2011
The federal prosecutor’s office decides to take over the investigation.
December 18, 2012
The chamber of indictment (KIB) orders that the seized evidence must be removed from the criminal file and stored at the court registry. The request of the archdiocese and the late cardinal danneels to have the documents returned to them is denied.
March 20, 2014
The chamber of indictment (KIB) decides to return the seized evidence to the archdiocese.
The victims were not summoned and were not informed of this decision.
September 1, 2014
The investigation is closed by the examining magistrate and transferred to the federal prosecutor’s office for final prosecution requests.
April 28, 2016
First hearing before the brussels chamber of council, postponed due to requests from civil parties for further investigation.
October 23, 2020
Victims regain access to the case file and discover that the 931 boxes of evidence were already returned to the archdiocese in march 2014.
November 9, 2020
Second hearing before the brussels chamber of council, where a procedural issue is identified.
April 29, 2021
The chamber of indictment (KIB) requests the federal prosecutor’s office to draft a new final indictment.
Civil claim against the holy see
July 12, 2011
Lawsuit against the holy see, the belgian bishops, and the higher superiors of religious orders and congregations for compensation for victims due to the church’s cover-up policy.
October 1, 2013
The civil court of ghent rules that the holy see has immunity from prosecution in belgium.
February 25, 2016
The court of appeal of ghent upholds the 2013 ruling, confirming the holy see’s immunity.
February 2, 2017
Victims file an appeal with the european court of human rights (ECHR) against belgium for violating their right to access justice (article 6, §1 ECHR).
October 12, 2021
The ECHR rules that the holy see is entitled to state immunity.
January 12, 2021
VSA requests that the case be referred to the grand chamber of the ECHR.
February 28, 2022
The grand chamber rejects the request for reconsideration.
What’s next?
Vsa’s fight relentlessly continues until justice is served for the victims.
Once operation chalice ultimately fails due to the disappearance of all crucial evidence, VSA will take the case to the european court of human rights to hold belgian justice accountable.
Also read: “operation church”
In this candid book, walter van steenbrugge speaks openly about the two most impactful cases of his career:
- Operation chalice (the fight for victims of sexual abuse in the church).
- The euthanasia trial (the legal battle for doctors who provided euthanasia to tine nys).
Both cases reveal hidden manipulations that influenced court proceedings. Van steenbrugge reconstructs the events and exposes how the church and the vatican have undermined the right to a fair trial.
Order a copy here
FAQ with walter van steenbrugge – “operation church”
Do you have proof of the accusations in your book?
Absolutely! Every claim is supported by official documents.
Why did you write this book?
Because society has the right to know about these major legal failures.
Are you afraid of backlash?
Justice doesn’t like criticism—but accountability is necessary.
Is this a revenge book?
Not at all. The victims never even had a fair trial.
What do you still expect from justice?
The case will go to the european court of human rights to hold belgium accountable.
Will this book make you persona non grata in the legal world?
I hope not, but I will not stay silent in the face of injustice.
Does christine mussche support this book?
Absolutely—she has fought alongside me every step of the way.
GODFORSAKEN – A documentary series
Episode 1 – silence is golden
Victims recount the abuse, the lifelong trauma, and the shame that silenced them.
Episode 2 – in the name of the father
Families reveal their struggles and the guilt of having trusted the church.
Episode 3 – operation chalice
The police raids, the danneels tapes, and the judicial chaos that followed.
Episode 4 – forever and ever
Despite legal setbacks, victims continue their fight for justice.
Watch the full series here