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heeft voorgeleefd. Hij heeft ons de intrinsieke waarde van mensen geopenbaard, ook van
diegenen die ons kwaad willen doen. Voor de tijd van Jezus was het geldende principe
oog om oog, tand om tand. Jezus echter toont ons een hogere weg en leert ons om
steeds bereid te zijn te vergeven, de andere wang toe te keren aan hen die ons beledigen,
te bidden voor wie ons haten, goed te doen voor wie ons vervloeken, onze vijanden lief te
hebben en te bidden voor wie ons vervolgen.!
!
Ik heb ook naar de mensen die bij mijn ontslag betrokken waren een dag na mijn ontslag
in een brief geschreven dat ik hen van harte het beste toewens, hen dit niet persoonlijk
kwalijk neem en dat ik ervoor kies om te vergeven en niet bitter of rancuneus te zijn. Het is
mijn overtuiging dat deze houding de wereld tot een betere plaats maakt waarbij
menselijkheid centraal staat. Ik hoop dat we allemaal mogen bemoedigd zijn om het ons
aangedane leed snel te vergeven, want dat maakt van de wereld een mooiere plaats.!
!
Fernando Pauwels!
!
0485716142!
fernandopauwels@hotmail.com!
!
!
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Rik Torfs, rector of the University of Leuven and Fernando Pauwels, senior research
associate of the University of Leuven between the 16th of Januari 2001 and the 4th of
October 2012 have decided to end the judicial procedures as a consequence of
Fernandos dismissal. They regret that a conflict arose between them at that time.!
!
1This is my personal translation of the text. An official translation will be available on the news site of the
Catholic University of Leuven on the 3rd of March at 10 AM. (http://www.kuleuven.be/english/news/)
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Rector Rif Torfs and Fernando Pauwels share the conviction that freedom of speech and
freedom of religion are fundamental rights, which especially in a university community
have to be respected.!
!
Personnel members of the University of Leuven have the right to follow and live their
personal religious convictions and in line with article 9 of the European Treaty on Human
Rights and with respect for other convictions, to communicate about these convictions.!
!
The quality of a civilisation, a society, a university depends on the measure it is able to
handle freedom.!
!
Rector Rik Torfs affirms that Fernando is an valuable, committed researcher, who during
his stay at HIVA has contributed to the establishment of new and promising research lines.
For that he wishes to thank him.!
!
Reflection!
!
I greatly rejoice that Rector Torfs regrets the way in which my dismissal was handled and
confirms that my scientific credibility is not questioned. The rehabilitation he thus provides
me, is of immeasurable value. I also rejoice in the fact that born-again christians, besides
people of other religious convictions, are welcome at the University of Leuven to express
their beliefs.!
!
With few exceptions, Rik Torfs, in those days still in capacity of senator and professor at
the University of Leuven, was about the only intellectual who publicly voiced his outrage at
the violation of a constitutional right. My dismissal created some controversy here and
there but soon the dust settled without much public outcry. In contrast to the resignation of
Barbara Van Dyck, which has given rise to a broad public debate and ultimately to her
recruitment back at the University of Leuven, not much public debate took place after my
resignation.!
!
The same scientists who in the name of critical science exploration and freedom of religion
backed the case of Barbara Van Dyck, have perhaps expressed their indignation in their
own departments behind closed walls. But the silence on the public forums that followed,
seems to be an illustration of the state of our current secularised society which does not
know how to handle expressions of deeply felt religious convictions anymore. !
!
Why was there no public debate? Is it because we as a secular, post-Catholic society can
no longer handle expressions of true faith? Or is it because we have lost touch with
fundamental rights like the freedom of religion because of the trend of our profound
secularisation? Or is it because expressions of faith that have sprouted from Protestantism
are still frowned upon in post-Catholic Belgium?!
!
Whatever the answer may be, I hope that the fundamental rights, the rights to religious
freedom can be safeguarded in our country and that in the future no one should go
through what we went through as a family.!
!
In closing!
!
Finally in closing, a brief reflection that illustrates how I have experienced this period. Early
on in my christian life, I have learned that following the person of Jesus Christ is an
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invitation to give up our rights in this world on personal revenge, bitterness, hatred,
jealousy, etc. and to choose to walk on the higher road that Jesus showed we could walk
on. He has revealed to us the intrinsic value of human beings, even of those who want to
do us harm. Before the time of Jesus, the ruling principle was an eye for an eye, a tooth
for a tooth. But Jesus shows us a higher way, where He teaches us to be prepared to
forgive, to turn the other check to those who offend us, pray for those who hate us, to
bless those who curse us, to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us.!
!
The day after my dismissal I wrote a letter to the people involved, sincerely wishing them
the best, telling them that I choose to forgive and not be bitter or resentful. It is my belief
that this attitude makes the world a better place. I hope we can all be encouraged and
inspired to forgive quickly.!
!
Fernando Pauwels!
!
0485716142!
fernandopauwels@hotmail.com!
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