# Johan Bonny

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**Johan Jozef Bonny** (born 10 July 1955) is a [Belgian Catholic](/source/Catholic_Church_in_Belgium) prelate who has served as [Bishop of Antwerp](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Antwerp) since 2009.

## Biography

Johan Bonny was born in [Moere](/source/Moere) ([Gistel](/source/Gistel)) on 10 July 1955, the oldest of five children born to Gustaaf Bonny and Marie-Jeanne Lootens, farmers. He attended primary school in [Eernegem](/source/Eernegem) and Moere, lower secondary school at the Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Gistel College and higher secondary education at [Sint-Janscollege](/source/List_of_schools_in_Ghent) in [Meldert](/source/Meldert,_Flemish_Brabant).[1] In 1973 he entered the [Bruges seminary](/source/Bruges_seminary).[2]

## Priest

On 20 July 1980, he was ordained priest by Emiel-Jozef De Smedt, [Bishop of Bruges](/source/Bishop_of_Bruges). Bonny helped found a [l'Arche](/source/L'Arche) community in [Moerkerke](/source/Moerkerke)[2] and remained attached to it as a priest.

He obtained a bachelor's degree in philosophy in 1976 from the [Katholieke Universiteit Leuven](/source/KU_Leuven), a bachelor's degree in theology in 1979 from the [Grand Seminary in Bruges](/source/Bruges_seminary), and in 1981 a licentiate in theology from the [Pontifical Gregorian University](/source/Pontifical_Gregorian_University) in [Rome](/source/Rome). De Smedt then appointed him archivist and professor at the Seminary in Bruges,[2] where he taught Church history, [dogmatic theology](/source/Dogmatic_theology), [ecumenism](/source/Ecumenism) and spirituality. At the same time, he worked with the renowned expert in Christian mystics [Albert Deblaere](/source/Albert_Deblaere). In 1988, he obtained a doctorate in theology from the Gregorian with a thesis on the Flemish mystic [John of Ruysbroeck](/source/John_of_Ruysbroeck), entitled "*Het ghemeyne leven* in de werken van Jan van Ruusbroec" (English: *The "common life" in the works of John of Ruysbroeck*). In 1985 [Roger Vangheluwe](/source/Roger_Vangheluwe) appointed him director of the department of theology and, in 1991, spiritual director of the Bruges seminary.

On 5 June 1997 he was appointed collaborator to the [Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity](/source/Pontifical_Council_for_Promoting_Christian_Unity),[2] where he was responsible for ecumenical relations between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox churches, mainly in the Middle East.[2] He took part in theological dialogue with the [Oriental Orthodox Churches](/source/Oriental_Orthodox_Churches), including the [Coptic](/source/Coptic_Orthodox_Church), [Syriac](/source/Syriac_Orthodox_Church), [Armenian](/source/Armenian_Church) and [Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church](/source/Malankara_Orthodox_Syrian_Church)) and the [Assyrian Church of the East](/source/Assyrian_Church_of_the_East). He also maintained the relationship between the council and a number of communities or movements, such as [Taizé](/source/Taiz%C3%A9) and [L'Arche](/source/L'Arche).[2] While he was working in Rome, Cardinal [Godfried Danneels](/source/Godfried_Danneels) and the Belgian bishops appointed him rector of the [Belgian Pontifical College](/source/Belgian_Pontifical_College) in Rome to succeed [Werner Quintens](https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werner_Quintens).[citation needed]

## Bishop

On 28 October 2008, [Pope Benedict XVI](/source/Pope_Benedict_XVI) appointed Bonny bishop of the [Diocese of Antwerp](/source/Diocese_of_Antwerp). He chose as his bishop's motto *The Lamb will be their shepherd* (Latin: *Agnus pascet illos*). On 4 January 2009, Bonny was consecrated a bishop in the [Our Lady Cathedral](/source/Cathedral_of_Our_Lady_(Antwerp)) by Danneels, assisted by Bishops [Paul Van den Berghe](/source/Paul_Van_den_Berghe) and [Roger Vangheluwe](/source/Roger_Vangheluwe)[3] in presence of various religious and civil dignitaries, including Cardinal [Walter Kasper](/source/Walter_Kasper) and Archbishops [Wim Eijk](/source/Wim_Eijk) and [André-Joseph Léonard](/source/Andr%C3%A9-Joseph_L%C3%A9onard).

In December 2014 Bonny called for Church [recognition of gay relationships](/source/Blessing_of_same-sex_unions_in_Christian_churches). He said: "There should be recognition of a diversity of forms. We have to look inside the Church for a formal recognition of the kind of interpersonal relationship that is also present in many gay couples. Just as there are a variety of legal frameworks for partners in civil society, one must arrive at a diversity of forms in the Church....The intrinsic values are more important to me than the institutional question. The Christian ethic is based on lasting relationships where exclusivity, loyalty, and care are central to each other." In September he wrote a letter in preparation for the [Synod on the family](/source/Third_Extraordinary_General_Assembly_of_the_Synod_of_Bishops) that October. He stressed that the Church urgently needs to connect with contemporary society, showing more respect for homosexuality, divorced people and modern kinds of relationships.[4]

In January 2015 he received an award from çavaria, the association of Flemish LGBT organisations, for his call for acceptance. Bonny however said the award was unnecessary.[5]

Bonny had said that because [Pope Francis](/source/Pope_Francis) did not voice specific opposition to the Flemish bishops' decision to bless same-sex unions, he has taken that as tacit approval. Bonny said he had "two conversations" with Francis from which he inferred he knew that the Flemish bishops were "not going against the Pope".[6]

Bonny said *[Fiducia supplicans](/source/Fiducia_supplicans)* “helps us move forward.”[7]

In March 2026 on the issue of [priestly celebacy](/source/Clerical_celibacy_in_the_Catholic_Church), Bonny stated that “The question is no longer whether the Church can ordain married men as priests, but when it will do so, and who will do it.” saying that he believes and is planning for his diocese to have married clergy by 2028.[8][9][10]

## References

1. ["50 jaar Sint-Janscollege: lezing van Johan Bonny"](http://www.sint-janscollege-meldert.be/html/sjm50/bonnycv.html) (in Dutch). Sint-Janscollege. 2007. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120220001132/http://www.sint-janscollege-meldert.be/html/sjm50/bonnycv.html) 20 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2009-01-06.

1. ["Portret van de toekomstige bisschop"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150613064345/http://www.kerknet.be/bisdomantwerpen/content.php?ID=6958) [Portrait of the future bishop] (in Dutch). *[Kerknet](/source/Kerknet)*. 2008. Archived from [the original](http://www.kerknet.be/bisdomantwerpen/content.php?ID=6958) on 13 June 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2009.)

1. Danneels, Godfried (4 January 2009). ["Homilie door kardinaal Godfried Danneels"](http://www.kerknet.be/admin/files/assets/documenten/02_homilie_kardinaal_danneels.pdf) [Homily by Cardinal Godfried Daneels] (in Dutch). *Kerknet*. Retrieved 2009-01-06.

1. ["Belgian bishop advocates church recognition of gay relationships"](https://www.ncronline.org/news/parish/belgian-bishop-advocates-church-recognition-gay-relationships). *National Catholic Reporter*. 30 December 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2019.

1. ["Bisschop Bonny wint holebiprijs: "Geen prijs nodig voor wat tot mijn zending behoort""](http://www.demorgen.be/binnenland/bisschop-bonny-wint-holebiprijs-geen-prijs-nodig-voor-wat-tot-mijn-zending-behoort-a2185848/). De Morgen. 18 January 2015.

1. Pentin, Edward (19 May 2023). ["Belgian Bishop Bonny: Our Decision to Bless Same-Sex Unions Is "Not Going Against the Pope""](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/bishop-bonny-same-sex-unions). Retrieved 4 September 2023.

1. [‘Accommodation’ or ‘evangelization?’ What accounts for regional differences on 'Fiducia supplicans'?](https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/accommodation-or-evangelization-what)

1. ["Belgian bishop plans to ordain married men by 2028, violating Church canon law"](https://www.ewtnnews.com/world/europe/belgian-bishop-plan-ordain-married-men). [EWTN](/source/EWTN). 23 March 2026. Retrieved 25 April 2026.

1. ["Belgian bishop announces plan to ordain married men as priests"](https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/belgian-bishop-announces-plan-to). [The Pillar](/source/The_Pillar). 20 March 2026. Retrieved 25 April 2026.

1. Junno Arocho Esteves (24 March 2026). ["Belgian bishop says he will 'make every effort' to ordain married men by 2028"](https://www.ncronline.org/news/belgian-bishop-says-he-will-make-every-effort-ordain-married-men-2028). [National Catholic Reporter](/source/National_Catholic_Reporter). Retrieved 25 April 2026.

**Additional sources**

- Bonny, Johan (2004-04-28). ["Relations Between the Catholic Church and Ancient Churches of the East"](http://www.ewtn.com/library/Theology/CHANEAST.HTM). *[L'Osservatore Romano](/source/L'Osservatore_Romano)*. Holy See. p. 10. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
- Bonny, Johan (2001). ["Christian Witness and Ecumenism in a Society with a Muslim Majority"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080617223120/http://www.sedos.org/english/bonny.htm). *Focus*. **31** (3). Archived from [the original](http://www.sedos.org/english/bonny.htm) on 17 June 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-03.

## External links

- ["Portret van de toekomstige bisschop"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150613064345/http://www.kerknet.be/bisdomantwerpen/content.php?ID=6958) [Portrait of the future bishop] (in Dutch). *Kerknet - De website van de kerk in Vlaanderen*. 2008. Archived from [the original](http://www.kerknet.be/bisdomantwerpen/content.php?ID=6958) on 13 June 2015.
- [Progress in Dialogue Between Holy See and Greek Orthodox Church](http://www.orthodox-christian-comment.co.uk/news-dialogueholyseeandgreekorthodoxchurch.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220315181820/http://www.orthodox-christian-comment.co.uk/news-dialogueholyseeandgreekorthodoxchurch.htm) 15 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine, interview with E.H. Johan Bonny, April 2003
- [Report of The Fourth Meeting of the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches](https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/anc-orient-ch-docs/rc_pc_christuni_doc_20070202_report-iv-meeting_en.html), Rome, 28 January tot 3 February 2007
- Radio Vatikan (29 October 2008). ["Vatikan: Ökumene-Experte wird Bischof von Antwerpen"](http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/ted/Articolo.asp?c=241019) (in German)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Johan Bonny](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johan_Bonny) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johan_Bonny?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.