Where ‘dirty pedo’ was first called, Civitas Christiana now makes a guide to children’s book writer Pim Lammers

A week ago, on April 3, Hugo Bos, chairman of the Conservative Catholic Society Civitas Christiana was in the court in Utrecht, because of The summary proceedings that Knowledge Center Rutgers had brought against the Society. According to Rutgers, Civitas would have been a smear campaign against the Knowledge Center for years.

It was restless in the courtroom, employees of Rutgers were scolded for « dirty pedos » and during that session Civitas opted for the counterattack and Rutgers accused of a slander campaign. The ruling of these summary proceedings will be on April 17.

Six days later, this Wednesday, Hugo Bos is taking a court again. In Amsterdam this time, but even now it is about summary proceedings due to an alleged slander campaign. Now the children’s book writer Pim Lammers who, together with his publisher, have brought summary proceedings against Civitas Christiana. Lammers has been associated with pedophilia for years by the Society, on both the website and the recently published Zwartboek Lentekriebels.

In 2023, the first online allegations against Lammers were made by the Society, based on a fictional story that Lammers wrote for adults in which sexual acts between a child and an adult man take place. He would write the children’s book week poem that year. Influencers such as Monique Smit and Kim Feenstra helped with the distribution on social media. Not long afterwards, Lammers was confronted with the first death threats and he was forced to withdraw from the Children’s Book Week. Four suspects were convicted of the threats.

Extra security

Due to the tensions in Utrecht last week, precautions were taken. There is extra security and where the supporters of Pim Lammers can sit in the hall, the supporters of Civitas Christiana are supposed to take a seat in the public gallery. From behind glass they look down on the court case.

By writing about pedophilia you are a pedophilia writer

The lawyer of Civitas Christiana takes the floor. He disputes that the Society has made unlawful expressions and that it has always been clear about the Christian background on which his views are based. He also argues that it was not the organization, but rather the influencers that Lammers were the first to associate with pedophilia. Civitas Christiana only « mixed in a debate that was already going on. » And: « By writing about pedophilia you are a pedophilia writer, » just like you are a « football writer when you write about football. » The society indicates that the threats are very annoying and « always approves threat ».

And then: where Civitas Christiana opened the counterattack at Rutgers, the lawyer indicates that Hugo Bos and his society are willing to stop ‘voluntarily’ with all the expressions that Lammers associate with pedophilia. In fact, they will remove or adjust everything where necessary. Sheets of paper are distributed with the 42 URLs in question, which refer to pages with texts about Lammers. The letters are small. « Even with my glasses on I can’t read this, » says Lammers’ lawyer.

He did not want to litigate earlier, because he hoped the storm would lie down

Suspicions

The lawyer of Lammers and his publisher contradict the timeline that Civitas Christiana gives about who first made the statements about Lammers. The lawyer mainly describes how radically they have changed the lives of the children’s book writer. « He is forced to be inaccessible, also for people who have the best for him. » And also: « He didn’t want to litigate earlier, because he hoped the storm lay down. » Due to the recent publication in the Black book spring jitters he saw no other choice. « Pedophilia is one of the worst accusations and certainly when it comes to a children’s book writer. »

The judge sees room for both parties to make an arrangement. Something that Lammers wants themselves, in a verdict there is again the association with pedophilia black and white. He proposes that parties will consult with each other, but also has a number of questions. For example, he asks about the motive of the publishing house – the lawyer states that the suspicions are hindered in the exploitation of books. « Does freedom of expression have to give way to this? » the judge responds.

The judge says to Hugo Bos: « I have looked at the website and you pay a lot of attention to Pim Lammers. But I can’t find anything about the biggest recent child abuse scandal, within the Catholic Church. » Bos answers: « I’m not sure. »

Lammers is also asked for a response. « I deliberately did not ask for rectification. I think it is genuinely important to disagree. That a girl cannot be a knight, they can find that. But I cannot relate to unfounded suspicions. »

Both parties have a week to arrive at an arrangement. If they can’t figure it out, the judge will still receive a request to make a decision. But the tension is out of the air.

To share

Mail the editors