Belgium church abuse commission head quits over raids

The head of the Belgian church-backed commission investigating cases of clerical sexual abuse has resigned. Peter Adriaenssens, a layman who is a child psychologist, said he was quitting and that the commission "had been used as bait," according to reports in the Belgian press.

After meeting on Monday, members of the commission have said they will step down on Thursday, Belgian reports say.

Adriaenssens expressed concern at what could have motivated the authorities.

"They could only act in that way with the sentiment that we were in the wrong or that we were trying to conceal the cases. This while I made a point of working in complete transparency," he is quoted as saying in the Belgian press.