Church apologises to child migrants
100 delegates from five continents taking part in six-day conference
The Maltese Catholic Church yesterday formally apologised to child migrants who had been abused when they were sent to Australia 50 years ago.
"I would like to express all my repentance for all the suffering the children underwent when they were sent to another country; the intentions might have been good but not implemented," Archbishop Paul Cremona said.
Speaking at the opening of a convention of Maltese who lived abroad, the Archbishop echoed an apology made last week in Parliament by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and endorsed by Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat.
Over 300 Maltese children were sent Down Under within a scheme launched by the Australian government. The Child Migrants Programme, which ended 40 years ago, shipped an estimated 150,000 destitute children to a "better life" in Commonwealth countries such as Australia and Canada but many ended up in institutions or as farm labourers.
The scheme, which ran to the 1960s, had left many people emotionally scarred. It was aimed at securing the children a better education and a brighter future.
But, unfortunately, not all went as planned and some of the children were exploited for cheap labour and a number of them suffered physical and sexual abuse.
Mgr Cremona said one should open one's hearts to those who escaped to Malta from their countries and were also suffering. "Using the love we have for our homeland, we should help those who need help."
Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg announced at the conference that the government was looking into setting up a Maltese institute to promote culture, language and traditions abroad.
"There is no doubt that Malta must promote everything that is Maltese: the teaching of the Maltese language, folklore, traditions, our way of life, our cultural heritage," he said. Malta had to emulate what other countries did and set up an institute that would promote Maltese culture abroad, he added. This would be done through cooperation between the tourism, culture, education and foreign affairs ministries so as to ensure an efficient use of human and financial resources.
The convention was also addressed by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat.
"I wanted to come and visit Malta again. It will always be my home," a Maltese woman living in Australia said. She was among the Maltese emigrants attending the opening of the convention.
Others, who were second-generation Maltese, took the opportunity to come over to visit their parents' homeland. "I always heard so much about Malta and now I will see all the places my parents told me about," a young Maltese Australian said.
First held in 1968, the conference was held again 32 years later in 2000.
Over 100 delegates from five continents will take part in the six-day conference, which ends on Saturday.
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Patrick Sacco
Mar 15th 2010, 19:32
Justice NOT apologies! No one is above the law!
Louise Vella
Mar 15th 2010, 17:52
Apologies are just nice words. What we need is transparency, openness and cooperation with criminal investigations.
Louise Vella
Mar 15th 2010, 17:35
In Catholic dioceses world-wide, the practice of covering up for offenders and moving them on to different dioceses was "church-wide". Bishops chose again and again to protect the image and reputation of their institution, rather than the safety and well-being of the children entrusted to their care. Unfortunately the welfare of children, which should have been the first priority, was sacrificed for the avoidance of scandal and the preservation of the good name, status and assets of the institution and of what the institution regarded as its most important members — the priests. When will the Maltese bishops come clean and tell us how they deal with Maltese priest child abusers?
Maria Vella
Mar 15th 2010, 16:43
Shame on the priests who abused, abuse, and will abuse children. No apologies are enough to remove what must be one of the most devastating effect on a human being. Many within the church are coming out to have been and are child abusers. The Pope and the top ranking members of the church come up with heart felt apologies. What do they think? Have any of the abusers been removed from the institution? Besides breaking the Law, people within the Church who should know better, are in my opinion more at fault then others when they behave in such a cheap and disgusting manner. How can our children be made to wave the yellow and white flags when the head of a corrupt, and sick institution visits us soon? I am sure that not all priests are such perverts, but too may cases of corruption, and molestation have been coming up these days. I cannot forgive anyone who touches a child, but I forgive a man of the church even less.
B Agius
Mar 15th 2010, 15:00
It is true that 'the harm has already been done. But many of these people have been asking for an apology which, if accepted, will go some way to recognize what these unfortunates have been through. Given the history of this whole shameful saga for Government and the Church, the apologies offered will be of some comfort to many. Although so far and speaking for myself, I haven't heard anything about the way they were offered and what level of emotion etc was expressed.
Louise Vella
Mar 15th 2010, 14:40
In a few years' time the archbishop will probably also apologise to Maltese victims of sexual abuse by Maltese clergy. In the meantime, can he tell us now who these paedophile priests are and where they live? It's not out of curiosity but so that parents can prevent further abuse and damage? Maltese bishops never felt the need to warn the police and the public about priest child molesters. We do not know what incriminating evidence the Curia may hold and how many crimes related to child abuse have gone unreported and unpunished. So far Maltese bishops seem content to live in a culture of secrecy and to protect the offenders. Prime Minister Laurence Gonzi should set up an independent commission to probe into possible cover-ups of any abuses in Malta and to remind the Maltese bishops that the clergy are not above and outside the law. In the meantime I urge anyone who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes to call the police and not the bishops. When victims and witnesses stay silent, predators walk free. But when victims and witnesses step forward, there’s at least a chance for prevention, justice and healing.
J Grech
Mar 15th 2010, 11:08
A number of them suffered physical and sexual abuses. Its too late for apologises. The harm has been done to the unfortunate children and nothing is going to change.