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Monsignor

Andre Joseph Leonard
Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels
Primate of Belgium
^Bishop Leonard
Birth	6 May 1940 with Legs ( Belgium )
Priestly Ordination	19 July 1964 in Namur (Cathdrale Saint-Aubin)
Episcopal Ordination (Consecration)	14 April 1991 in the Cathedral of St. Aubin de Namur by Cardinal Godfried Danneels
Bishop	Bishop of Namur (1991) Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels (2010)

Currency	Oh yes, come, Lord Jesus! (Apocalypse)

Andrew Leonard, born in leg in Belgium on 6 May 1940 , is a philosopher and theologian Catholic. After Bishop of Namur for nearly twenty years under the name of Andre-Mutien it is archbishop of the Archdiocese of Malines-Brussels ^{Youth and education}

He comes from a Catholic family practitioner, a native of Tournai. It is the last son of four, all became priests. His father dies while in infancy.

He entered the seminary Leo XIII to Louvain , where he obtained a degree in philosophy. Sent to Rome, he graduated in theology at the Belgian College. He was ordained priest for the diocese of Namur, 19 July 1964 .

He returned to Leuven where he obtained the rank of associate master in philosophy, for a thesis entitled "Commentary literal logic of Hegel. "

Academic career and works of philosophy and theology

At the University of Louvain, he was first a lecturer and then, from 1976, professor of philosophy at the Higher Institute of Philosophy at the Catholic University of Louvain. In July 1978, while continuing his duties at the university, he was appointed chairman of the seminary of St. Paul.

He continued his work as a philosopher and theologian. In 1987 he was appointed to the International Theological Commission , an advisory body to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Andrew Leonard publishes many books on theology or philosophy, and pursues these publications after his accession to the bishopric of Namur. They represent one facet of his pastoral activity, whereby it seeks to expose the Catholic doctrine on issues considered difficult in keeping the apparent biblical foundation. Thus, in his book Death and Beyond, published in 2005, the prelate evokes issues Doomsday. He reminded that death is not part of God's original plan. It proves unfavorable to the theory of limbo and rejects "the absurd doctrine of some recent theologians whereby we

Bishop of Namur

John Paul II appointed him to the siege of Namur in succession from ^Bishop Mathen in February 1991. He was consecrated bishop in his diocese and installed April 14 by Cardinal Danneels. He then assistant to his name than Mutien in reference to St. Mary Mutien Malonne , canonized in 1989 .

From 21 to 27 February 1999, he preached the Lenten retreat for Pope John Paul II and the Roman Curia .

On the doctrinal level, he wants a continuation of the Council Vatican II and the papacy of Pope John Paul II that he believes that the legacy "is not behind us but before us, as a program" . It is close to the doctrinal and philosophical line of Benedict XVI. For example, he received the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum on the latter's use of the Tridentine Mass with enthusiasm .

The Bishop of Namur was sentenced Friday, April 27, 2007 by the Civil Court of Namur payable to Dr. Philippe Caspar the sum of 121,868 euros. The doctor had prepared various reports requested in 2004 by ^Bishop Leonard, without ever having been paid .

Very concerned about the training of priests, ^Bishop Leonard is professor of philosophy at the seminary of Namur in 1991. It teaches moral philosophy. Under his leadership, this seminar is the largest in Belgium: at the time of his departure from the diocese, there are 35 of the 71 seminarians in Belgium .

He takes part in initiatives to seek the regularization of undocumented immigrants , he has particularly welcomed in his episcopal palace .

On Saturday, February 20, 2010 at 15:30, Bishop Leonard bade farewell to the Diocese of Namur with a celebration of thanksgiving celebrated in the cathedral of Saint-Aubin de Namur in the presence of Bishop Berloco, apostolic nuncio in Belgium. The next day he celebrated his last celebration at the cathedral, by the decisive call of catechumens.

Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels

On 18 January 2010 , he was appointed archbishop of Malines-Brussels , replacing Cardinal Godfried Danneels who retires having reached the age limit . Installation on the cathedra of the cathedral of Mechelen was held on 27 February.

He retains his episcopal coat of arms which we find the bridge legs and a horn symbol of the Luxembourg Ardennes forest.

However he abandoned the name of Mutien choosing as Primate of Belgium's first name Joseph, patron saint of Belgium

The same day, the Belgian Socialist Party sent him as a welcome stiff warning, requiring him to show "tolerance and respect for human rights for all" and "respect . The Deputy Prime Minister Laurette Onkelinx adds that for her, the new primate "could challenge the Belgian compromise" .

On 27 February 2010 , when he takes his office of archbishop, he was also appointed Bishop to the Belgian armed.

On 29 June 2010 on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, he receives at the hands of Benedict XVI, the Archbishop of pallium together 37 new archbishops from around the world who have been appointed for 1 year.

Statements

Homosexuality

His position on the role of sexuality in human life is in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

In a book of interviews that he spends Louis Mathoux published in August 2006 , he declared: "I understand that in some circles it is cautious about the commitment of gay people for missions education for young people."

In April 2007 during an interview with Belgian weekly Tlmoustique , it evokes the abnormality of homosexuality from "a deadlock in the normal psychological development .

On 4 April 2007 , it said in a statement that he did not use the term "abnormal" to describe a gay but homosexual behavior. The next day in a new release, he distinguished the behavior and the person. Confronted with the denials of Andrew Leonard, the Mosquito TV journalist released the soundtrack where you hear the bishop speak of abnormality. This recording "happily confirms my position," said ^Monsignor Leonard, and "Transcribe this by saying that I said that homosexuals were abnormal is a serious abuse of language" .

Subsequently Danneels said that differentiate homosexual behavior of the person, Andrew Leonard is only following the doctrine of the Church .

Following the publication of this article, the association of gay rights "as is" filed a complaint for incitement to discrimination. The Council Chamber has delivered a nonsuit in this case, arguing that while such comments may appear offensive to the gay community, they are not an incitement to discrimination under Belgian law .

AIDS

In a book of interviews with Louis Mathoux published in French in 2006 , when asked about the possibility of the AIDS a form of divine punishment, Andrew Leonard responds

"For my part, I did not reason at all in those terms. At most I would see this epidemic a sort of justice immanent , not a punishment, like, ecologically, when you mistreat the environment, it eventually bully us in turn. And when you mistreat human love, maybe he finally revenge, without the need to involve a cause transcendent . "

In articles intended to illustrate the "extreme conservatism" Andr Lonard, the Belgian daily Le Soir resume several times the expression "poetic justice" used by the prelate, in 2007 and during his ascension to head of Mechelen-Brussels ^,. The expression is again controversy in October 2010 on the occasion of the translation of this book of interviews in Dutch, causing many reactions in Belgium .

Following the striking positions among other victims of priest abusers, AIDS patients, women and homosexuals, several organizations Belgian Catholics distanced themselves from Andrew Leonard and his spokesman, Jrgen Mettepenningen , resigned on October 31 2010, because of a letter Focus published shortly before by the Primate of Belgium . He compared Andrew Leonard with a ghost driver, who believes that all others are wrong .

Catholic University of Louvain

A petition to Bishop Leonard to leave his post as Chancellor of the Catholic University of Louvain has been signed by 305 academic and related, members of scientific staff and administrative (5.6% of the 1372 academic, 2044 scientists and 2001 administrative ) for greater autonomy Rectorial Council from the Catholic hierarchy. This relatively low percentage was considered a "flop" by "supporters of Bishop Leonard." The approach was not otherwise "not to oppose the sometimes very personal visions of the archbishop of Malines-Brussels" .

Works

(Partial list)

Literal commentary of Hegel's Logic, Leuven, Publishing Higher Institute of Philosophy, 1974
Thoughts of Men and Faith in Jesus Christ. For a Christian intellectual discernment, Paris, 1980, 1980 price of "Scriptores christiani" 1980
Reason to believe, Editions Fayard Communio, 1987
Faith and philosophy. Guide to Christian discernment, Brussels, Ed Lessius, 1991, 314p.
The Church loves you. A journey of hope for separated, divorced, remarried , Paris, Ed. of Emmanuel, 1996, 152p.
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, Paris, Ed de l'Emmanuel, 1997
Father, thy kingdom come, Paris, Ed de l'Emmanuel, 1998
God hears there prayers?, Paris, Ed. of Emmanuel, 2003, 79 p.
Death and Beyond, Paris, Presses de la Renaissance, 2004, 221 p.
Pastoral catechesis and the sacraments. Deadlocks and prospects, Quebec, A. Sigier, 2005, 77p.
Metaphysics of being. Test basic philosophy, Paris, Les Editions du Cerf, 2006, 448 p.
Reasons for hope: Short theological treatise, followed Winterreise, Presses de la Renaissance, 2008, 283p.
Your body to love: Sexual morality explained to young Edifa-Mame, 2009, 121p.