Roger Vangheluwe, the former Bishop of Bruges, has died at the age of 89, years after resigning following revelations of sexual abuse. He stepped down in 2010 after admitting to sexually abusing a male relative for years, predating and continuing after his appointment as Bishop in 1984. Initially a popular figure known for some progressive views, the abuse scandal led to multiple accusations and a criminal investigation, though statutes of limitations prevented prosecution. Despite initial resistance, Vangheluwe relinquished his clerical titles in 2024 at the request of the Pope, losing his rights as a priest and bishop. The case sparked “Operation Kelk,” a wider investigation into abuse within the Belgian Catholic Church, uncovering numerous other cases. Vangheluwe's death marks a somber chapter in the Church's reckoning with widespread abuse issues. He confessed to abusing two nephews in a 2011 television interview, and further allegations emerged later.