Ariadne Massa
Gozo Bishop apologises after child abuse report
Gozo Bishop Mario Grech is asking for forgiveness from those who were abused as children while in the care of the Dominican nuns at the Lourdes Home in Gozo.
His apology comes in the wake of a report, which confirms that "in some particular cases there had been inadmissible behaviour involving minors that should have never taken place". The outcome of the report, compiled by a commission set up by Mgr Grech to investigate allegations of physical and psychological abuse perpetrated on minors during their stay at Lourdes House, was released last night; 22 months behind schedule.
Mgr Grech said the Church wanted to accompany these persons, who are now adults and who have suffered unwarranted behaviour, through a healing process.
"I have to show my sorrow for all that was of detriment to these children. I ask forgiveness from those who have suffered because of this behaviour," he said in a press statement.
"I have already appointed a team of experts who will accompany these persons through this process. I have also made contact with the persons involved and will be closely following the case," Mgr Grech said. The number of victims has not been released, however, sources close to the Church told The Times that the number of people who suffered from hurtful behaviour was "very small" compared to the huge number of children who were provided a new life thanks to the care they received at Lourdes Home.
"However, for the Church, persons are more important than numbers. This means that even if one boy or girl was abused, it's unacceptable. This is why the Bishop has unconditionally asked for forgiveness," the sources stressed.
In its report, the commission made a series of recommendations to ensure such abuses never happen again and Mgr Grech has already contacted the Superior General of the Dominican Sisters and instructed her to implement the proposals.
The recommendations have not been made public, however, the sources said the premise of these revolve around the fact that whoever is found guilty of abusing a person, particularly a child, will be prohibited from working in this sphere.
Despite the findings, Mgr Grech did not wish to dismiss the sterling work carried out with "great love and dedication by a great number of Dominican Sisters" during the home's long history.
"I sincerely hope and recommend that Lourdes Home will continue to give this service to the Church and to society," Mgr. Grech said.
The commission - chaired by Judge Victor Caruana Colombo, and including lawyer Ruth Farrugia, psychologist Angela Abela, and Mgr Fortunat Mizzi - was set up in April 2006.
The commission's findings, which Mgr Grech felt would help him in his pastoral ministry, should have been presented within two months but the investigations dragged on and the report was only presented a few weeks ago.
When the allegations were first made public in 1999, Bishop Emeritus Nikol Cauchi had set up the first commission, which had drawn up a report that concluded the claims were unfounded.
"Since there exists the possibility that whoever is making these allegations was not heard, or those who took part in the previous investigations can have fresh information, Mgr Grech has set up a (new) commission to examine whether there are new elements that can shed light on these incidents," the press release announcing the launch of the commission in April 2006 had said.
The Gozo Diocese set up the second commission after the allegations had been aired on the television programme Bondiplus, where about eight victims - who were in their late 20s, mostly in their 30s, and 40s - had come forward to recount their traumatic experience.
During the programme one man had recounted how he was force-fed and when he threw up was made to eat his vomit. Another man had his hand ironed and a woman spoke of how she was dragged by the hair along the corridor.
"We had carried two programmes, one in 2006 and another in 2007, to establish why the commission was taking so long to release its report. We are proposing to air another edition to close this unfortunate chapter," Bondiplus executive producer Lou Bondì said.
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Charlie Attard
Apr 13th 2008, 01:56
I have written about this crime already .. I am still waiting for a move by the Justice department to investigate those involved. I am sure the stucture of this department is still as was prior to the elections ... so . what are they waiting for ..silence makes them accomplices to the coverup!!!
James Formosa
Apr 7th 2008, 15:10
To both MG's whilst you both make many good points, you cannot expect that an apology(even if it means a lot) is enough. The church did a little too late. Whatever the case human lives have been ruined by criminal behaviour. The church needs to take responsibility and pay for damages anyway without the need of going to court and whether the victim wants the money or not. They also need to change the law regarding prescriptions. If it has been prescribed then they need to make an amendment for child abuse cases in general, as it may take time for persons to come forward. Good job Bishop Grech for apologising and now put your money where your mouth is and see to it that justice is done - i.e. pay for damages and see that these nuns get what they deserve. Not only the perpetrator but also all the other nuns who knew what was going on and did nothing! Shame on them. On the other hand, let us not forget the majority of nuns who do a good job helping orphans, elderly, poor & sick persons.
Kenneth Zammit Tabona
Apr 7th 2008, 14:49
Has nobody noticed that we in Malta are a state within a state? Which is the stronger I leave to you to judge. If the victims choose to go to the police what happens then?
Adrian Camilleri
Apr 7th 2008, 14:19
Admirable first move by the Bishop, but it's a mere small step in terms of justice.
What they did was a civil crime, not simply a religious mistake. The police should handle this, like any other crime.
Being in the church doesn't make them any better or worse than other criminals.
Raymond Sammut
Apr 7th 2008, 02:14
In regard to M.G. Grech's response to my earlier comment. The only "quick fix" solution that springs to mind is Mgr Grech's "apology" which appears to try to bypass the very institutions being referred to here by M.G. Grech. It would be a great shame if the Maltese authorities were to allow such a circumvention to have its way. I also wish to point out to M.G. Grech that it is very bad etiquette to first re-word someone else's argument, and then combat that argument on the basis of your own wording. Suffice to say, that according to the BBC report, there are some other 500 cases like that of Ms Sampallo in Argentina. As far as I know, none of the people involved are reported to have come forward and make amends after what they had done 30 years ago. It is therefore clear to me, that apologising on behalf of child offenders can have no credibility whatsoever. There is an unarguable duty of disclosure on the part of those concerned.
M.G. Grech
Apr 6th 2008, 17:34
I kindly ask readers to bear with me again. Mr. Sammut Is this the train of your argument: "the Bishop’s apology is without meaning since from experience, and we can take as example the case of Ms. Rampallo of Argentina, these abusers do not repent for what they have done”? If this is your argument, sorry but I do not agree with you.
The Bishop made his apology as the person responsible for this Church institution. He did not apologise INSTEAD of the persons who have abused. They are morally called upon to offer their personal apology to the injured parties. Therefore the Bishop`s apology has its own intrinsic value over and above the apology which should be forthcoming from the persons directly involved. And besides, as the person responsible he has the authority to see that the recommendations of the commission will be carried out. One can safely presume that one of the recommendations is that these persons will be banned forever from going near children. Therefore yes his apology has great value and we all should appreciate it.
How can you or anyone make himself judge over the conscience of persons? How can we be so sure that all persons who have committed such crimes will not repent? Would this not be too pretentious of us?
And secondly each and every human being is morally free, that is he can choose between what is right and what is wrong. If his actions are prohibited by the law then it is the courts of justice who have the obligation to judge and give out punishment despite of the fact that he might never repent of them. And in which case what should the state do? Condemn these people to death? Unfortunately such an argument would be a throw back to the Dark Ages when people were burnt at the stake for not repenting. O but of course nowadays we have more subtle instruments of human destruction! Yes! We can as C Pace has suggested use the “media, photographers, the journalists” to do the killing job. (I am making this comment with great apologies to all the photographers and journalists who use their talents for the sake of truth and the good of man and not to act as judge and jury in the market place). We all should be wary of quick fix solutions that can in a moment destroy all the millennial endeavours of our forefathers who worked to set up institutions (parliament and courts of justice) to ensure our fundamental human rights.
Maria Attard
Apr 6th 2008, 14:25
Sorry is not enough. The abusers should brought to justice, otherwise it is a go ahead to other perverts.
C Pace
Apr 6th 2008, 10:46
so how do we know if these people are still working amongst our children today? we want names and pictures spread all over the media... so far they are being protected by the church, sitting cosy in the hope people never find out who they are. photographers, journalists, anyone there????
Raymond Sammut
Apr 6th 2008, 09:12
This "apology" is simply unacceptable. There is a case current in Argentina, the case of Ms Sampallo, which clearly demonstrates that once someone has abused a child, they remain unrepentant even when taken to court and found guilty. It is difficult to understand why the Maltese authorities seem to simply stand by and not act, while Mgr Grech keeps carrying on the way he does.
M.G. Buttigieg
Apr 5th 2008, 22:19
What more do you want out of our Bishop? He set up the commission, gave it all the time necessary to investigate. And he now has made a public apology as the person responsible for the Church Home at this moment in time. When these abuses happened he was not as yet Bishop.
YES WE ALL NEED TO SHOW OUR REGRETS AT THESE TERRIBLE HAPPENINGS AS HE DID ON BEHALF OF THE CHURCH. WE NEED TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT FOR THE VICTIMS OF THESE ABUSES. But I cannot help feeling dismayed at all this shaking of hands in the face of our Bishop.
In my opinion the statement that “no one is above the law” is out of place. The Bishop is not keeping anyone of these persons from reporting their cases but if my memory serves me right these abuses are prescribed by law since it seems that the victims were late in moving their case.
But it seems that there are some people whose pastime is attending the circus or better still attending the Roman arena to view the Emperor thumbing down the fallen gladiators. These people it seems will only be satisfied when they see the Bishop walking up the steps of the Police Station leading the religious persons to give themselves up. Have we lost all sense of respect and dignity?
And again if my memory is serving me right one of these persons who came on TV said that his aim was not lucrative or moved by a sense of revenge but his aim was to ensure that these things will not happen again. So perhaps some people out there are claiming their pound of flesh more than the victims of these abuses. Let us all respect their pain and sorrow and not try to dribble at their misfortunes. Now that the truth has been bared it is time to enter into a respectful silence so that the persons who have been charged with curing the wounds have all the space to do this properly without floodlights.
malcolm seychell
Apr 5th 2008, 22:16
What about a payment to the victims from the church?
Clerics should not be above the law. They should face criminal charges and if needed jail too.
Paul Ruggier
Apr 5th 2008, 21:13
Abuse under any form is not acceptable. But it is easy to look back and condemn.
What is today considered to be abusive, was run of the mill discipline 40 years ago.
The healing of those suffering from the real or perceived abuse is far more important then going after people in their twilight years so that "justice" can be served !
Paul Barrett
Apr 5th 2008, 20:38
By protecting the accused in this affair and not handing the evidence of the investigation to the Commissioner of Police for action, all in the organisation including the totally innocent are under suspicion. This is totally unfair and destroys both trust and creditability - have faith in the law and justice system to deal with this matter and not hide it and hope it will go away - it will not.
M.Schembri
Apr 5th 2008, 20:22
Apologise?!?!?!Wow that's easy! Does this mean that as from today any who is caught doing this shamefull act, can just simply appologise and that's it...come on!! These persons should be named on each and every media station, being it radio,tv and newspapers,together with their picture,so as everyone will know who they are,and what crime they've committed.By not mentioning them,one is only protecting them,and giving them another chance!An apology means simply NOTHING to all those kids who have been abused...they want justice and nothing more!
R Galea
Apr 5th 2008, 19:24
Asking for forgiveness is not enough, in fact its not even the start of things. This persons or person that committed the atrocities need to be brought to justis and named and shamed. Bishop Grech threes no way you can harbor them and ask for forgiveness with out getting the police involved in this criminal and disgraceful offense.
Vanessa Farrugia
Apr 5th 2008, 18:45
Now that the report confirms the abuse, will the abusers face the court?
A church based report means nothing, justice must be done, and must be seen to be done.
No one is above the law, afterall.