Catholic Mass broadcast canceled in Belgium in favor of Islamic service

A recorded Islamic service was aired on Belgian state TV. Photo: Facebook

In Belgium, public broadcaster VRT canceled the live broadcast of a Sunday Mass of the Roman Catholic Church and replaced it with a pre-recorded Islamic service. This was reported by the Muslim Council of Belgium on Facebook.

The broadcast was organized with the support of the Islamic organization and became the first of two mosque-based religious programs planned for this year. As a result, Catholic faithful were left without the traditional Mass broadcast, which was replaced by Islamic content.

VRT’s management had previously questioned the need to air Christian services. In 2023, the company’s CEO, Frédéric Delaplace, made relevant remarks following the release of the documentary series Godvergeten, which focused on abuse cases in the Catholic Church.

The channel’s decision has sparked debate over the place of Catholics in the media landscape and the priorities of state policy in covering religious life.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that an imam had been invited to preach about Islam in a Roman Catholic church in Italy.

Read also

MP calls strike on Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra "beneficial"

The lawmaker said the strike on the monastery became a useful tool against the “routinization” of the war – one Ukraine should take advantage of.

Authorities hold AI conference in Lavra's Refectory Church

Ostapenko said the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra had experienced firsthand how Kremlin bots operate.

Ternopil official who threatened to expel UOC sentenced to 9 years

The Appeals Chamber upheld the sentence against Mykhailo Holovko, who had vowed to evict the monks from the Pochaiv Lavra.

Bandera fresco shown online in Ternopil UGCC cathedral

Stepan Bandera is depicted in a suit on a fresco inside the UGCC cathedral in Ternopil.

Yelensky: There is a risk the UOC could appeal to ECHR and win

The head of DESS suggested the state could lose if European judges see the UOC ban as a violation of freedom of conscience.

Vicar of Khust Eparchy consecrates new chapel in Yasinia

Bishop Mark of Rakhiv performed the rite of consecration of the chapel and thanked all benefactors for their assistance.