STERCKX, ENGELBERT. - Cardinal, archbishop of Malines, b. 2 Nov. 1792 at Ophem, d. 4 Dec. 1867 at Malines. Ordained priest in 1815, he taught philosophy and moral theology at Malines, then became parish priest, vicar general, archbishop from 1832, and cardinal from 1838.
Worthy of note was his opposition to the anti-religious policy of William I of Holland before the Belgian revolution of 1830. An advocate of broad religious freedom and tolerance in Belgium, he upheld its desirability, not always in harmony with the Holy See. He secured great benefits for his country, especially in the field of Catholic religious education (Catholic schools, foundation of the University of Louvain) and in the reorganization of Catholic life in his diocese.
Works: Histoire de la vie et du martyre du bienheureux Louis Florès d'Anvers, Malines 1807; Courte dissertation sur la manière de représenter par la peinture le mystère de l'Immaculée Conception, ibid. 1855; La Constitution belge et l'encyclique de Grégoire XVI, ibid. 1864.
Belg., XXIII, cols. 801-807; E. de Moreau, s. V. in LThK, IX, cols. 811-12; A. Simon, Le card. S. et son temps, Wetteren 1950. Jaroslav Skarvada