British clergyman dies during night of drug-fuelled sex with priest

A British clergyman died after a night of sex and drugs with a Belgian priest who has since been arrested on drug-related charges, Belgian authorities revealed.

The 69-year-old Brit, who has not been named, was spending the evening with his fellow cleric, 60, at a rectory in Kalmthout, north of Antwerp, on Thursday.

After taking ecstasy and poppers together and having sex, the British priest suddenly fell unwell, the prosecutor’s office said.

Shortly after midnight, his Belgian colleague, identified only as Pastor B., called the emergency services, who could not resuscitate his companion.

The sudden arrest of the pastor, visiting colleagues as the Pope travelled through Belgium, has left the small parish of Heide in shock, according to local media.

File. St. Joseph’s Church, the parish church in Heide, where the clergyman died

Amyl nitrite, or ‘poppers’, can be inhaled to cause a brief rush of euphoria and dizziness (File)

‘It appears that the two men had used ecstasy and poppers together and had had sex,’ the prosecutor’s office revealed on Saturday.

‘Two ecstasy pills were also found,’ they said on Saturday.

Poppers refers to amyl nitrite, a liquid compound that can be inhaled for a brief rush of mild euphoria and dizziness.

‘Traces of narcotics were found on the victim’s body,’ Kristof Aerts of the Antwerp public prosecutor’s office said.

An initial urine test showed ecstasy had been taken, but an autopsy will be required to prove cause of death. 

An investigation was ongoing and the initial autopsy could not immediately provide any conclusive information into the exact cause of the death, the office added.

The 60-year-old priest was questioned by the investigating judge on Friday and gave a statement.

The public prosecutor revealed only that ‘some elements of his statement require further investigation’. 

He was later placed under arrest, and is now facing charges of ‘trafficking in narcotics resulting in death’.

The man had reportedly been visiting colleagues to coincide with the Pope’s visit to Belgium.

Pope Francis concluded his weekend trip to Belgium on Sunday after facing some of the strongest criticism yet levied during a foreign visit.

In a meeting with Belgian dignitaries on Friday, both King Philippe and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo called for more concrete action to help survivors of abuse by Catholic clergy. 

And in later events at two Catholic universities, officials denounced his stance on the role of women in the church and society.

Francis did not specifically mention the criticisms at his last event in Belgium on Sunday, a celebration of Mass at Brussels’ King Baudouin soccer stadium. 

But the pope did add to the prepared text for his sermon and made a strong condemnation of Catholic clergy abuse.

‘There is no place for abuse,’ the pontiff said, drawing scattered applause from the estimated 37,000 attendees. 

‘There is no place for the cover-up of abuse. I ask everyone, do not cover up abuse. I ask bishops, do not cover up abuse’.

The Pope also faced scrutiny on Saturday as he addressed an audience at UCLouvain.

Professors and students issued a press release moments after he finished speaking, saying they wanted to express their ‘disapproval’ of his views. 

The pope’s speech at the university largely called for global action on climate change, but he also responded to a letter to him from students and professors that had asked about the Catholic Church’s teaching on women. 

Francis emphasised that the church, which bans ordination of women to the priesthood, was not run like a corporation. He described women as having ‘a fertile welcome, care (and) vital devotion’. 

Pope Francis travelled to Belgium this weekend, where he faced some of his sharpest criticism

The Pontiff, 87, prepares to fly back to Rome after a four-day journey to Luxembourg & Belgium

Earlier this month, a British vicar who claimed his crystal meth habit helped him relate to his parishioners was expelled by the Church of England.

Rev Geoffrey Baulcomb admitted to buying and using drugs, including heroin, from time to time over a period of 20 years after police raided his home and found a stash of meth and ketamine in 2022.

Baulcomb retired from the historic St Mary the Virgin church in Eastbourne, East Sussex, several years ago, but was still an ordained priest at the time of the offence.

A tribunal organised by the Church of England concluded his ‘attempt to justify drug taking as a part of his ministry’ was ‘entirely misconceived’.

‘The small amount of crystal meth found was purchased last May and I sampled a small amount,’ he told officials.

‘I totally accept I was wrong to have them. I am only too well aware of the high standards of my calling as a priest.’

Baulcomb was permanently banned from any position in the church and faces jail when sentenced next month.