Belgium’s Catholic Church: shrinking but still influential

Belgian Catholicism is suffering severe attrition. So why is it continuing to drive Catholic news?

The Catholic Church in Belgium is dominating headlines this week, after bishops issued a text for the blessing of same-sex couples.

But it’s not only this week that the country has garnered attention in Catholic circles — Belgian Catholicism has long enjoyed considerable influence within the worldwide Church, especially since the Second Vatican Council.

A…