After the regular theological course at the seminary of Namur, he entered the Catholic University of Leuven (French: Louvain), where he applied himself especially to the study of Semitic languages, Holy Scripture, and philosophy.
In 1848, he was appointed to the chair of moral philosophy at the university, and, the same year, received the doctorate in theology.
Upon the death of Pierre François Xavier de Ram, the bishops of Belgium chose Laforêt to succeed him in the rectorship of the university.
One of his main undertakings was the foundation and organization of the schools of civil engineering, industry, and mines.
Laforêt was a prothonotary Apostolic ad instar participantium, an honorary canon of the cathedral of Namur, an officer of the Order of Leopold (Belgium), a commander of the Order of Christ, a member of the Royal Academy of Belgium, and of the Roman Academy of the Catholic Religion.