Belgian specialist in psychiatric caregiving
Brother Dr. René P. E. Stockman, F.C. (born May 13, 1954 in Assenede, Belgium) is the Superior General of the Congregation of the Brothers of Charity from 2000 to July 09, 2024. He is a Belgian specialist in psychiatric caregiving.
Education.
René Stockman studied at the Saint-Laurens Institute in Zelzate between 1966 and 1972. He finished grammar school with a diploma in economics.
In 1972 he joined the Congregation of the Brothers of Charity. He fulfilled the noviciate training in Maria-Aalter (1972–1973). He then started in Ghent his training as a nurse at the Higher Institute for Paramedic Professions (1973–1976).
He continued with studies leading to a Master in medical and social sciences and management of hospitals at the University of Louvain (1977–1980). His thesis was entitled "Organization of mental health-care in Rwanda and Burundi". Additionally he obtained a teaching certificate for teaching in higher secondary schools (1981), at the University of Louvain. He completed his education by obtaining a doctors degree at the Catholic University of Louvain. His thesis was entitled: "The place of the religious within the mental health care" and obtained high examination marks (1986).
Professional activities.
Brother René Stockman began his professional activities in 1976, as chief of the department of health care at the psychiatric institute of Sint-Julian Ghent (now the Dr. Guislain Institute). He pursued this mission until 1977.
From 1980 until 1987 he was director of the Institute for Psychiatric Nursing Dr. Guislain in Ghent and in 1982-1988 he was the managing director of the Institute Dr. Guislain.
In 1988 he was made the general manager of all institutions of the Brothers of Charity in Belgium which are active within the sectors of health care and orthopedagogic care. He pursued in this capacity until 1994.In 1994 he was made superior of the province Saint-Vincent (Belgium) of the Brothers of Charity. In 2000 he was elected general superior of the Brothers. From then on he resided mainly in Rome, travelling extensively throughout the world.
He was reelected in 2006 for a second term of six years, in 2012 for a third term and in 2018 for a fourth term.
Controversy.
In 2023, a former pedagogical director and a former BOB detective alleged that Stockman had actively tried to interfere with their investigation of a mentally disabled girl who had been sexually abused by a friar. Said friar was initially found guilty by the court of Kortrijk, but was acquitted on ground of doubt by the court of appeals. The court noted there was no doubt as to whether the girl had been sexually abused, but there was reasonable doubt as to whether the accused friar was the perpetrator of said abuse. The former pedagogical director alleged that Stockman had him fired for believing the girl's mother. The former BOB detective alleged that Stockman made veiled threats about having his wife fired from her job at a Catholic institution.
In the same documentary, Stockman replies by denying these allegations of intimidation. He admits to having made a phone call to the detective to request he not pick up the accused friar in a patrol car, because of the friar's old age. But he denies to have tried to obstruct the investigation and to have threatened the detective's wife's employment. He did not directly address the former pedagogical director's claim that he had been dismissed because of how he handled the complaint. He only made mention of having tried to maintain serenity in the affair and having asked his staff to do the same, which — in his words — does not mean he put the reputation of the institution above the safety of the child. In a reaction on their website, the congregation does not address these specific allegations but acknowledges in general that the name "Brothers of Charity" was mentioned several times and that a dark chapter from the history, the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s was highlighted. The congregation apologizes for any form of sexual abuse in the past.
References.
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External links.
 Media related to at Wikimedia Commons