A Belgian bishop resigned today after admitting he sexually abused a young man while running the diocese of Bruges.
It is the first such case in Belgium, although a church commission is investigating about 20 more possible cases in the country.
Bishop Roger Vangheluwe apologised for his actions in a statement read by Primate of Belgium Andre-Joseph Leonard at a news conference this afternoon.
"When I was still a simple priest and for a while when I began as a bishop, I sexually abused a young man in my close entourage," Dr Vangheluwe said.
"I profoundly regret what I have done and I present my sincerest apology to the victim, his family, the Catholic community and society in general."
The bishop stepped down after a person close to the victim complained to the church.
Hundreds of instances of abuse by clergymen have come to light in Europe and the United States in the last month as disclosures encouraged victims to go public with their allegations.
Professor Peter Adriaenssens, president of a commission which was set up by the church in 2000 to investigate sexual abuse, told the news conference he was looking into about 20 separate cases after receiving complaints.
Reuters