Alleged child abuse victim calls on Pope, Maltese Church to apologise
A man who claims to have been sexually abused by priests in a Sta Venera orphanage is calling on Pope Benedict XVI to issue an apology.
Lawrence Grech, 37, said the Pope should use next week's trip to Malta to apologise to local victims of child abuse, just like he did to the Irish last month.
"He should recognise that these things happened in Malta, reflect about the victims' suffering and issue a formal apology," Mr Grech told The Times at the same time as the Pope was celebrating Easter Mass.
Mr Grech is one of 10 testifying behind closed doors in a case against three priests who are facing charges of child abuse. The proceedings have been going on for seven years.
Two weeks ago, the father-of-two wrote to the Vatican calling for a papal apology.
He is also calling on the Maltese Catholic Church to apologise for the suffering of orphans at the hands of priests, just like it formally apologised to child migrants who were abused when they were sent to Australia 50 years ago.
"Have they forgotten about us?" he asked.
The Catholic Church is in the middle of a sex abuse scandal in which even the Pope has been targeted.
Last week, in answer to questions by this newspaper, a spokesman for the Curia said the local Church's response team had received reports of child abuse involving 45 priests since 1999, but would not say how many of the priests investigated had been found guilty or whether any priest had been dismissed or banned from celebrating Mass and hearing confession.
Mr Grech spent his childhood in orphanages. His case had surfaced in 2003 when he claimed to have been abused by two priests at St Joseph Home, in Sta Venera, between the early 1980s and early 1990s.
Asked why he did not speak up at the time, Mr Grech said he had tried to tell a family who hosted him on weekends, but they did not believe him.
"It was just my word against his, that of a child against that of an adult," he said pensively.
Moreover, he said, the alleged abuse had become a "normal" occurrence. "It was normal for the priest to come into our room...," he said, looking at photos of himself and other boys dressed as women. The clothes, he said, were brought by one of the priests.
It was only after he moved to Australia with his wife that the repercussions of the abuse led Mr Grech to seek medical advice: "I started having erotic dreams about priests," he said.
The doctor referred him to a psychologist, who asked him whether he had been abused as a child. "I could not lie," he said.
The police started investigating in 2003 but the proceedings have dragged on. Mr Grech angrily pointed out that this case contrasts sharply with that of brothers Denis and Anthony Pandolfino, who in 2006 were jailed for 10 years for repeatedly raping and sodomising two boys they were taking care of. The two had been charged under arrest in 2002, although they were eventually granted bail.
"I am very angry and I want this case to be closed," he said, adding that this whole affair has turned him into a non-believer who only went to his daughter's Holy Communion not to create family problems.
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Christian Sciberras
Apr 19th 2010, 09:25
Matt, by the way, "atheism" is also an unrealistic term. Theoretically, one can say and believe there is no God.
But practically, there is always some form of God*.
*Requires definition of God which as I already wrote, is subjective.
Joe Xuereb
Apr 8th 2010, 01:26
@ N.Zahra. quote:'allow priests to get married and live a sexually normal human life'. Being married doesn't guarantee a sexually normal life. Where did you get this idea?
I seem to understand that commentators are often saying that the 'bad apples' are only a minority and their actions should not reflect on the 'good apples'. This issue is not about numbers. The illicit sexual act is horrendous but the perpetrator isn't just any old Jack, he's a priest representing the religious institution. His crime's SCANDALOUS. This kind of scandal abuses adults and children alike. And, in a sense, an even greater shortcoming is the Institution's readiness to hush up cases. It is not justified of course but I can well understand that a dignified Institution like the RC Church cannot afford to be anything other than tentative in its attempt to offer an apology. Any apology is bound to weaken it, and the Church knows it. But it's a situation it created itself.
To be fair, the Church cannot control what goes on behind closed doors (we are talking about an activity that is, by definition, concealed). But it is its duty to report once cases come to light.
Stephen Florian
Apr 7th 2010, 22:38
It is the work of the devil, to have the church crumble from within, and he is beggining to reap the crop of his evil plan.One simply hopes that there is light at the other end of the tunnel.
Charmaine Marmara'
Apr 7th 2010, 18:02
and why arent these child abusers in prison like any other child abuser ...why ??? they should be in prison in mexico like every other man or woman that abuses childre. NAME THEM AND SHAME THEM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
alexander cortis
Apr 7th 2010, 15:35
Allowing priests to marry wouldn't change much, though it couldn't do any harm. At least, it would give them 1st-hand experience of marriage, maybe also of having their own children to protect.
Priests, or anyone else, don't become paedophiles because they're unmarried.
Paedophilia is a mental malfunction one can be born with. It can also develop as a result of being sexually abused as a child, as it causes mental/emotional/physical trauma/confusion. It is well-documented that a sexually-molested child is more prone to sexually abusing children when reaching adulthood. Fortunately, many, but not all, escape that kind of sexual attraction, much to their credit.
The Church is an excellent place to hide in because of the public's innate belief that they joined the priesthood because of vocation. The Paedophiles who become priests then, cunningly, wangle their way to working with children.
There is not sufficient prior screening by the Church authorities to evaluate the mental/emotional/spiritual state of the would-be priest and once accepted he is given immunity, and total secrecy to all he does is observed, renderinging civil law unimportant compared to the necessity to maintain closed ranks.
This would cover other conditions too, not just paedophilia.
Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Apr 7th 2010, 15:08
In Malta, clerical abuse of children is as rampant if not more so than is the case overseas. Failure by church and state leaders to address this issue and to be FULLY TRANSPARENT constitutes a further insult to those abused. Presently, neither the Church nor the State are addressing this issue seriously. They are shooting the messengers instead of listening to the message. Protect the victims. Out the abusers. Prosecute the abusers in secular courts. Impose mandatory reporting. Introduce legislation banning response teams run by the Church. Ban contracts that buy the secrecy of those abused. Ensure that no priest or religious is left alone with a child. What secret agreements are there between the Church and State to cover abuses by priests, I ask?
P. Baldacchino
Apr 7th 2010, 14:50
The Maltese people have a habit of burying their heads in sand !. I cannot , for the life of me , understand how parents can still send their boys to become Altar Boys. This really freaks me out. PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN DO NOT BLINDLY BELIEVE THAT PRIESTS ARE GOOD PEOPLE FOR THEY HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO BE WORSE THAN YOU AND ME.
A.Darmanin
Apr 7th 2010, 13:40
It seems to me that child abuse and pedophilia have become the latest fad nowadays, everybody is chattering about these. All this demonizing of priest is a bit misdirected though, remember our streets are laden with much worse and depraved deviants than any church out there - unless you include mass. So stop acting like the sheep that you are and think logically.
Oh well, better stop reading the Times, cause I fear that I too will end up with 'erotic dreams' involving dog-collars.
Sebastian L. Micallef
Apr 7th 2010, 11:06
I cannot understand what this person is trying to achieve by asking the Pope to apologise. He has suffered an evil action and that is terrible. He admits he feels angry. Is the Pope's or Archbishop's apology going to make such a huge difference? Is he going to feel less angry? On the other hand the Church should offer more concrete means to help these victims. A 'sorry' is a good start, but is certainly not enough.
mmagri
Apr 7th 2010, 20:16
well done - you have just answered your own question. Of course this poor guy wants an apology!!!! How can anyone defend the church in this situation is beyond belief!! Any other organisation would have been forced to suspend operations pronto.
N Zahra
Apr 7th 2010, 06:26
I think that the problem stems from the fact that we expect priests to be quasi-supernatural beings - by requiring them not to have sex during their lifetime, when the truth is that they are mere mortals like everyone else, albeit with much worse cravings than anybody else.
The fact that their role in society puts them in constant contact with the underprivileged on the other hand provides them with countless opportunities to take advantage of their situation. I'm sure that we're only touching the tip of the iceberg in the West, and that most acts are committed today in the developing countries, slums etc where the people have no voice to express themselves.
My solution would be to allow priests to get married and live a sexually normal human life.
Tony Borg
Apr 7th 2010, 02:11
@ Jeremy Zammit
I hope that you are not justifying the sending of sexual sms to miners. Why on earth would an adult find the need to send a sexual sms to a sixteen year old child?? It may not be on the same level as the actual raping of a child, however it is nevertheless a sexual abuse of a child.
joe sant
Apr 6th 2010, 21:07
NAME THEM AND SHAME THEM!!!
j.magro
Apr 6th 2010, 20:17
I AM ONE OF THOSE BOYS WHO HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ABUSED BY THE SAME PRIEST. I LIVED IN THAT INSTITUTE BETWEEN 1982 AND 1990, BUT THE LAST TWO YEARS WERE HORRIBLE. IMMAGINE,EVERY MORNING AT 6.00 THE PRIEST CAME IN MY ROOM TO WAKE ME UP AND TOUCH MY PRIVATE PARTS WITH ALL THOSE EROTIC KISSES THAN AT 7.00 I WANT TO GO THE MASS THAT THE SAME PRIEST CONCELEBRATING. AFTER 7 YEARS IM STILL WAITING FOR JUSTICE AND I DONT KNOW WHY IT TAKING SO LONG,PERHAPS THE CHURCH HAVE THE BEST 2 LAWYERS IN MALTA? NOWADAY I HAVE MY OWN FAMILY AND I WANT TO SAY THIS TO ALL THE READERS,DONT TRUST YOUR CHILDREN TO ANYONE BECAUSE IF SOMEONE TOUCH THEM THEY WILL NEVER FORGET..............IM A VICTIM
M Muscat
Apr 6th 2010, 16:55
One of the reasons why I do believe in God but not in the church!!
They all say that you can't love God and money in the same way. You only have to choose one of them. And how come the church is one of the wealthiest organisations in the world?
Please explain!
G.Micallef
Apr 6th 2010, 14:27
@Martin Schranz
@Joe Fenech
Mill-fond tal-qalb jitkellem il-fomm!!!
Joe Fenech
Apr 6th 2010, 12:27
Inviting the Pope when the church is going through a crisis doesn't look good on us.
When are we going to stop this fundamentalist superstitious nonsense and attune to the modern world.? Move away from medieval times, folks!
Martin Schranz
Apr 6th 2010, 11:57
It will be interesting to see now, whether the Maltese police will interrogate Joseph Ratzinger about these serious allegations, once Joseph Ratzinger steps foot on maltese soil, as the Maltese police did so promptly with Alex Vella Gera. Or are the Maltese police just strong with the weak and weak with the strong ?
B Galea
Apr 6th 2010, 12:16
Alas, Mr Schranz, far too many of my compatriots turn into cheap imitations of the three monkeys when criticism of the catholic church is brought up. They will welcome him with flags and horns, kiss his robe and snap away with their cameras, happy to believe the myth that god's representative on earth is walking amongst them.
Then Ratzinger will return to his palace of Croesus, replete will gold, jewels, art and treasures from centuries of 'spreading the word of christ', and continue to try and suppress leaks about paedophilia and abuse from amongst "god's soldiers". But a rising tide cannot be stemmed, no matter what fairytales of Moses and the parting of the red sea tell us.
Jeremy Zammit
Apr 6th 2010, 12:23
You raise an important point about being weak with the strong and strong with the weak. Another person in Malta with teh same surname that you mentioned was some years ago found guilty and given a jail term (suspended) for sending sms with sexual innuemdos to a minor.... In my opinion this was a case of going overboard.
What damage and lifelong suffering could these sms have caused? I am also hesitant to agree with people wjo speak of 'damage' and 'ruined lives' when sexual abuse is mentioned. The problem is that sexual abuse of minors can mean so many different things. Rape of a ten year old is one thing but sending a sexual sms to a 16 year old is completely different. Both are lumped under the title of 'abuse' in Malta and this is in my opinion very wrong.
Jeremy Zammit
Apr 6th 2010, 11:57
Pont One: The fact that this case has been dragging on for seven years is nothing extraordinary. This is the way the courts work. The inefficiency of the system is unbelieveable causing untold suffering to the alleged victims and alleged perpetrators and their families.
Point two: This case 'coincidentally' came to light during a TVM programme during October - when surveys are carried out to find out which programmes people are watching. Broadcasting stories for the sake of sensationalism is despicable. I believe that a lot of damage was done by the programme.
Valerie Borg
Apr 6th 2010, 09:49
I would like to know when is it that i child confesses abuse and an adult believes them and protects them??? Why is the question always asked "why didn't you say anything at the time"? The boy said something at the time and no one believed him. So no wonder children just suffer in silence. When will adults stand up for the children so this doesn't happen again to other children. We are their protectors and the poor things suffer in silence. Wake up people sexual abuse happens and it's up to us adults to do something for the children cause no one else is on their side!!!!!! Everyone wants to be in denial that no this couldn't happen by a priest or by anyone male or female but again open your eyes it does and the more in denial you are the more our children suffer. So let's provide our children with some confidence in us adults that we are going to stop them from any further suffering and pain.
Stefan Engelbert
Apr 6th 2010, 01:27
@david vella: "Who are we to ask God for an apology!!"
He is asking the Pope for an apology NOT God! Or did it miss something that the bishop from germany is now god?
Stella Calleja
Apr 6th 2010, 00:54
As long as the church keeps being protected by the state and the priests are kept above the law, these things won't stop. How much damage do they have to cause before people realize it's time to take a stand against their laissez-faire attitude? (not only in the catholic church but in many other institutions as well, unfortunately). The pope knew about paedophile priests and did nothing about it.
Merely apologizing to abuse victims is not enough in my opinion. It's ridiculous to assume that this man, who suffered such a huge emotional trauma, is going to somehow feel better just because the pope went up to him and said sorry.
William P Flynn
Apr 6th 2010, 00:46
This has made world wide news: (Google: Grech sexually abused priest Malta) too many publications to include here. These are some:
http://cbs5.com/wireapnational/Pope.to.visit.2.1611672.html
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/04/05/world/AP-EU-Pope.html
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/100405/world/eu_pope
Patrick Sacco
Apr 6th 2010, 00:28
No one is above the law, not even priests! I want justice, not apologies.
jcamileri
Apr 5th 2010, 23:21
The way we are going, we are to ask for the resignation of our archbishop Mons Pawl Cremona, for the resignation of Pope Benedict and the dissolution of the ~Catholic ~Church. We know best. We never err. We are the examplars.We should lead morals. No one should dictate to us what to do. Only we have this right. Everybody is wrong except us. We are the absolute!!!!
Dr Ing Patrick Attard
Apr 5th 2010, 23:00
The Pope as Joseph Ratzinger has had an indirect responsibility.
On the 18th May 2001 he wrote a letter imposing a pontifical secret (punishable by excommunication) on the abuser, victim and witnesses of sex abuse:.
See the original letter in Latin:
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20010518_epistula_graviora%20delicta_lt.html
See the letter in English:
http://www.sarabite.info/vatletter.pdf
The Catholic Church in the USA has paid over U$D 2 Billion to victims of clerical-sex-abuse.
jcamilleri
Apr 5th 2010, 22:51
@Sbrina Borda
How good are you at generalising. What proof have you got that MANY priests are pedophiles? Are not you being so unjust at accusing the innocent with the guilty. You think you are straight and so you are throwing stones at everyone. Since when we can demand that a soverign state be brought to court? Aren't your eyes tainted with green?
Raymond Sammut
Apr 5th 2010, 21:33
"Asked why he did not speak up at the time, Mr Grech said he had tried to tell a family who hosted him on weekends, but they did not believe him."
There is clearly a communication problem here. Was there not a help line, together with awareness education, available? Both the minister responsible and Child Protection Services would have quite a bit to explain, obviously. No child should ever have to be in this type of situation.
Andrew Agius
Apr 5th 2010, 21:11
A normal citizen abusing a minor will end up in courts for justice, and priests somehow have some sort of protection. They should face justice and if the need be even prison.
David Xuereb
Apr 5th 2010, 20:06
These last years we have heard cases were the person found guilty with sexual offences were punished, but not a priest!! If I was a pedophile I would surely choose the priesthood to hide my sexual/mental disorder, so i will not be punished by law. In my opinion the pope has to make a public apology to these maltese citizens that had suffered in the past and actions has to be taken against the priests found guilty if possible before these priests die as these investigations are taking ages by the church authorities.
Joseph Grixti
Apr 5th 2010, 19:36
Many seem to forget that the church is not made up of good men and women, but only of men and women. There is good and evil in every person. It is heartening however, to see that even those who have nothing but hatred for the church, expect it to be holy. My heartfelt thanks to all priests who lead an exemplary life dedicated to the people of God. May the Lord bless you all.
ray sacco
Apr 5th 2010, 22:01
@joseph grixti:
but can you tell from the priests who lead an exemplary life dedicated to the people of god and the priests who abused young innocent children and blemished their lives? you would, if your catholic church wise leaders handed over these perverts' to the police!
Sabrina Borda
Apr 6th 2010, 05:43
And may the Guilty ones be punished !!!
This is not about the good priests, this is not even about forgivness, this is about the evil ones and bringing them to justice without anymore delay.
mjbagley
Apr 5th 2010, 19:18
Malta is now hitting international headlines:
The latest is Malta, which the pope is to visit this month. It was reported last week that 45 priests stood accused of sexual offences since the creation of a church response team in 1999.
None of the cases has been referred to the police and the retired judge who heads the project said that was the responsibility of victims and parents.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/apr/04/pope-defiant-child-sex-abuse
Emanuel(Lolly)Camilleri
Apr 5th 2010, 18:57
Niftakar li Lawrence kien l'ewwel wiehed li kellu il-KURAGG li jidher fuq it-television u jghid li kien abbuzat meta kien St.Joseph Institute.Ghadni nisimaw meta Lou Bondi saqsih x'tara fih dan il-qassis li hawn hdejk peress li kien hemm fuq il-panel qassis li kien imexxi l'Istitut u ghadni niftakar ir-risposta ezatta li qallu Lawrence wara li hares fiss f'ghajnejn il-qassis il-kliem ezatt kienu QIEGHED NARA IX-XITAN.Jien haga wahda nixtieq inkun naf? Dak il-qassis li kien il-Canada u kien imfittex mil-pulizija fuq abbuz ta tfal x'sar minnu? ghax niftakar li kienu gabuh Malta u poggewh ukoll f'Istitut ta tfal jekk m'hienix sejjer zball.
Is-sodisfazzjon li jkun hemm apologija zgur li se jasal Lawrence.
Adrian Archer
Apr 5th 2010, 18:05
First of all, I have to point out that like any one caught in child abuse should be punished severly. Unfortunately we tend to protect more the abusers rather than the children. Perhaps the church should aim at finding credibility in what it preaches.
Second, Mr Ebejer said that here "But they will get nothing except our rage against people who think they can hold to ransom the Catholic Church established by none other than Christ Himself." Do you wish to imply that because Christ formed the Church, the Church has ever been without sin? Do you know the history of the church? Do you know what the Maleius Malificarum, the Crusades, the Inquisition were? When Pope Urbanus II said 'God Wills it' (Meaning god will the killing of the infidel) was he under the prowess of Christ? Don't get me wrong I still believe that there is more good in the church than not and one has to be careful as god and church are not the same thing!!
On a final note, it is true that Christ said, 'Hallu t-tfal jigu ghand.' but some priests are taking this too much at heart.
maria aquilina
Apr 5th 2010, 17:56
Mr.Grech went public. I think he reported these acts to the police,so it was the police who had to take action.Because the molestor was a priest it does not make any difference.Every body can err because we are all human beings after all,but each and everyone of us must be accountable for his/her actions. Mr.Grech is still suffering the repercussions even after so many years.,as is his family. Justice must be done.Bishop Grech said that no priest is going to find protection from the Church. He must act what he preaches.
MARGARET RICHARDS
Apr 5th 2010, 17:52
Why am I not surprised with never-ending procedures, that will eventually issue a guilty verdict ? Pedophiles, whoever and wherever they are should not go unpunished. The fact that these pedophiles happen to be priests, who have connections and power is even more serious. At this point I don't believe an apology from the Pope is enough - the destroyed lives of so many youngsters at the hands of priests can not finish with a simple unfelt apology. It's so easy, that the Pope just utters an unfelt apology, but he'll still remain in power, and those who suffered abuse will never forget what they passed through. As to the Pope's visit to Malta, it's just a publicity stunt in the right place and at the right time. I won't be going anyway - I don't have time to lose hearing vatican rhetoric over and over again!!!
Sbrina Borda
Apr 5th 2010, 17:33
Paedophilia is a crime !!! This is what some priests (or many of them) are, it seems - Paedophiles. It’s like a pandemic spreading around the world as they preach in God's name... it is a crime against humanity as they still go on and on. These are serious crimes against these innocent boys and girls, all defiled victims.
The Vatican State should be answerable to the law. It cannot be trusted to clean up its own house. The Church should not be above the law, because look what continues to happen decade after decade. It is deplorably hypocritical as they give out sermons, even all too ironic as the Church discriminate against innocent Christian Gay men when they are raping children over and over. How very disgusting indeed. This is no way to follow Jesus, this is a dirty mess.
Stella Calleja
Apr 6th 2010, 08:13
I have always wondered why the church keeps insisting that homosexuality if wrong, even when countless psychological studies have shown that: it is an inherent part of any population, is not some sort of mental disease at all, and is not detrimental in itself to "affected" individuals or people surrounding them. Relationships between gay people are consensual and can be as meaningful and fulfilling as straight relationships.
Given all this information, the church keeps insisting it is wrong and immoral... even though gay people are hurting/abusing no-one at all! Paedophilia, on the other hand, is profoundly detrimental to the affected child, it is not consensual, it is exploitative, it is a psychologically harrowing experience to the child...the list goes on and on.
Not saying that ALL priests are paedophiles because that would be unfair, but the truth is that an alarming percentage of them actually are. And the Church hasn't really done anything about it until now, just because they have come to the attention of the public. And yet during all those years when it was covering up cases of paedophilia, it kept accusing gay people of being "unnatural" and fuelled discrimination against them.
marthese mussett
Apr 5th 2010, 16:31
Well done Mr.Grech for speaking up...hope justice wii be done..you waited long enough.These monsters should be brought to justice,whoever they are.Children who were unlucky enough to become orphans were let down very badly,they should have been comforted and looked after....God knows how many children cried themselves to sleep at night...how lonely and scared they felt....waiting for a bad priest to pounce on them...And pleeeeeeaaaaaaaaase,stop defending them.....I know there are alot of good priests who do a world of good...but whats bad is bad.....and sadly we cannot change that.
Joe Genovese
Apr 5th 2010, 16:05
We had a Vatican spokesman likening the siege the Catholic Church is now under to the horrors the Jews endured, the horrors that almost brought about a genocide.
An Italian, in almost the same hall where another Italian put his signature to the infamous "Concordat" that spelt appeasement in the face of Mussolini's anti-Semitism, drawing this parallel in front of a Pope coming not just from Germany, but from the cradle of German Nazism.......Bavaria.
Can one be more brazen-faced than that?
Did anyone see the Pope flinch?
Where's the Church's human face?
And now we get this comparison from the Church's highest authority with an attempt on genocide.
Paedophiles sent to prison are usually put in protective custody from other prisoners. In inmates' eyes chid-abuse is the lowest form of crime. There seems to be more honour in prison cells than in some other kinds of cells.........
In all likelihood, those who ruined so many people's lives in such institutions, in Malta, Ireland, USA, were tooth and nail against.....abortion.
Try reconcile that.
The Church's Anti-Abortion stand was tantamount to providing the fodder to their cannons.....
G.Micallef
Apr 5th 2010, 15:10
"I am very angry and I want this case to be closed," he said, adding that this whole affair has turned him into a non-believer who only went to his daughter's Holy Communion not to create family problems." - Lawrence Grech
I strongly condemn proven pedophile incidents and pedophiles should be punished for their actions. They should also be detached from society. However when we pass away we all face God's judgement individually and so let us be wise enough not to dismiss God from our life! Eternal life is much more precious than our mundane life! However the Church authorities are to dismiss from active ministry pedophiles wo fall under its remit. In the first place these people 'pedophile religious/clergy' , have a problem as human beings and UNFORTUNATELY they happened to belong the active ministry of the Church be it Catholic, Anglican, Luteran etc!
Evarist Saliba
Apr 5th 2010, 15:01
I have already had the occasion to quote part of the letter written by the Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, to "The Times" of London. This is another quote.
"The relationship between the administration of church law and the criminal law in any particular state is a point of real difficulty and misunderstanding. Nothing in the requirement of canon law prohibits or impedes the reporting of criminal offences to the police. Since 2001 the Holy See, working through the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, has encouraged that course of action on dioceses who have received evidence about child abuse and which the diocesan authorities are responsible for pursuing. The canonical procedure is best put on hold until the criminal investigation is complete, whatever its outcome. This is what is needed."
Delay in legal processes is endemic, but not excusable, especially where the protection of minors and the reputation of those accused is involved. One result, as shown by many comments, is that the accused are presumed guilty straight away. There are cases when evidence proved that the accusation was based on genuine mistaken identity. To involve the Pope in cases which are still under investigation is not waranted.
Chris Mifsud
Apr 5th 2010, 13:58
@carme callus "He should ask the priests who allegedly abused him to apologise and not a whole Crhsitian community!"
Callus, the priests who allegedly abused him are represting the Catholic Church and therefore the Catcholic Church as a whole must apologise.
Louise Vella
Apr 5th 2010, 13:13
Ten years ago I gave evidence at the Curia against an alleged priest child molester. The so-called ‘response team’ was chaired by ex-judge Victor Caruana Colombo. The other member was Mgr Mario Grech, now bishop of Gozo. Can our Archbishop tell the public if the ‘response team’ found enough proof against this priest? Can he issue a press release to warn us about priests that have been defrocked by the Vatican because of sexual abuse of children? Can he issue a press release every time a priest is defrocked by the Vatican for similar reasons, as is done in foreign dioceses? Church authorities should focus first on making kids safe, and not protecting wrong-doers.
Joseph Cauchi
Apr 5th 2010, 13:05
It’s very sad to hear such stories, when innocent victims, who innocently confide and put all their trust in certain people, are abused by them!
These types of people, actually “MONSTERS” should get what’s rightly due to them and not let off lightly for their criminal acts.
Unfortunately, some people who have pedophiliac inclinations tend to join certain institutions and groups that can get them closer to children, such as in schools, sports activities, scouts and also religious orders, in order to satisfy their perverse and sick behaviour.
This however should never be construed that all those that are in contact with children are of this type; God Forbid, No! But the few albeit the exception, yes!
Therefore it is unfair and unjust to target all the institutions and groups that are frequented by these “monsters” unless they are not taking the right preventive measures to defend these innocent victims at all costs; which I am certain the Church is definitely doing.
These monsters are not priests and were never priests at all, but pedophiles CAMOUFLAGED as priests; and the Church should defrock these MONSTERS immediately and report them to the authorities concerned.
These monsters should never be trusted!
JC.
E. Vassallo
Apr 5th 2010, 13:01
My deepest sympathies with you, Mr. Grech but make courage because truth will finally previal. What shocked me was that retired Judge Victor Caruana Colombo said that "it would be useless for the Church to report priests involved in sexual abuse cases to the police because no criminal action could be taken without the victim's consent". Very shocking.....I can assure that the Maltese Catholic Church should come clean abiut such cases...
mjbagley
Apr 6th 2010, 10:33
Absolutely scary. With or without the victim's consent, a crime has been reported to be committed and must be investigated by the state.
carme callus
Apr 5th 2010, 13:00
He should ask the priests who allegedly abused him to apologise and not a whole Crhsitian community!
carmelo aquilina
Apr 5th 2010, 14:15
If the Chruch shelters the abuser and puts onstacles in the way of justice then the Chjruch should be condemned. What sort of justcie has the Chruch offered ? What interests is it protecteding except its own ? If the Chruch expects to be a moral leader then it should set the standard like it does elsewhere...
P. Farrugia
Apr 5th 2010, 12:36
May justice be done. However no one should assume reports are true before the cases are closed. Most comments seem to take foregranted that the reports are true; or is it a grudge against priests? Again, may justice be done and the truth emerges as quickly as possible.
John Lauri
Apr 5th 2010, 12:31
@ Ronald Ebejer.
Your blinkered defence of the church is outrageous ! Senior clergy have finally admitted that many thousands of children have been physically and sexually abused, by priests.
And NO an apology is not enough. The church's apology is simply hollow words. What these priests have commited is serious crime and should be sent to prison for their actions. Remember : paedophilia, committed by anyone is a serious criminal offence. The pain, suffering, trauma and shame of the abused kids, should be recognized, dealt with and amends made towards these children.
May I remind you that the pope has admitted that serious abuse of children has occured and he even apologized for it to the Irish population... so why should it be any different to the Maltese ?
Clearly you are living in denial. The church has proven through its recent scandals, of how rotten and corrupt to the core, it is !
Time for for the church to clean house and for some senior clergy to resign, INCLUDING the pope.
J Azzopardi
Apr 5th 2010, 12:22
The church may play the victim as much as it likes but it is evident who are the real victims here. I find it hardly possible that all the allegations of abuse are false.
I don't think the church as a whole is to be blamed, but the church needs to shoulder its responsibilities and face the consequences. Playing the victims and trying to hush things is counterproductive and turns the church authorities who know into accessories to criminal behavior.
What these children went through is devastating. The church is lucky they are simply asking for an apology. I would ask for much more then that.
And a final point. Comparing what is happening to the church to the shoah is irrelevant and insensitive, to say the least. The church brought this on itself and by stating so it implies that the Jews also brought that tragedy on themselves, and this is surly not that case!
Raymond Sammut
Apr 5th 2010, 17:49
The claim you are alluding to was actually made by Rev Raniero Cantalamessa. He made the claim without authorization from or knowledge of the RC Church administration. Cantalamessa has since accepted personal responsibility, withdrew the claim, and apologized to the Jewish communities. Nevertheless, in my view, the Cantalamessa affair was yet another sign of weakness in administrative procedures within the Vatican.
Michael Spiteri
Apr 5th 2010, 12:21
This is not about God or Jesus on the cross for that matter im sorry---lets not divert the issue with the common sentiment of a repetitive ritual.
This is a reality that is far more bitter than we tend to make it out to be. So what if some pope will "apologise" for events that happened years ago? (which i STILL think that he should in order to give these victims the desired respite).
However, The fact of the matter is that it is all about abuse of power. And how Mr Grech said, if a child goes around saying that he was abused by a priest, even if true, chances are that he would not be believed. Moreover, such priests should be stripped off their priesthood and helped (for they have a problem as well) and NOT relocated to another area. Isnt it obvious that such an act will go on?
Lina Caruana
Apr 5th 2010, 12:12
Could I remind Mr. Grech since he went again public that there are so many injustices in the world that need remedy not just an apology. Some injustices are hidden so maliciously and few are the people who will do justice and give evidence to them. Injustice is bad but they cannot be canceled with other injustices. What about asking for solidarity amongst people who suffer injustices of all kinds. I wish to see how people manifest this solidarity. Good luck Laurence, do not think that there is only one type of injustice in the world. Show your solidarity.
JJ Creg
Apr 5th 2010, 12:09
Well done, Mr. Grech. Don’t ever be discouraged by anyone who try to tumb you down - Fight for your rights. Carry on what you are pursuing. May the power of God give you strength and praying that justice be done for you and the other victims, in Jesus’ name..
Hopefully, victims who suffer in silence, will follow your steps.
Peace be with you.
Louise Vella
Apr 5th 2010, 12:00
When victims and witnesses stay silent, predators walk free, kids are violated and victims keep hurting. But when victims and witnesses speak up, there’s at least a chance for healing, justice and most important, prevention. When dealing with such a serious matter as child abuse I think there's a very grave responsibility on everybody in positions of leadership to do everything possible to ensure the protection of children.
Lori Marchi
Apr 5th 2010, 11:40
Preach dear Church, preach, keep on preaching what you do not live... what about that poor pregnant future single mum who was seconded to work at the Curia way back in 1994 and who was asked to leave its premises since they did not want to have problematic situations within its work environment? Please note, this young woman was providing a service, and was not harming anybody in any way. She was just single and pregnant: sent out to a life of potential social poverty. The Church has a lot to think about...since this is also another potential form of abuse.
John Pace
Apr 5th 2010, 11:21
Why is it that in Malta there is no quick justice. We continually read of a court system that most cases even straight forward ones take years. Mr. Greck do not allow them to tire you out. Keep at it even it takes another seven years. Just remember that all they are doing is protecting the dynasty. It is so evident that they do not have your interest at heart. Be strong.
Andy Towler
Apr 5th 2010, 11:20
It must have taken some courage to go public in this newspaper. Prosit Mr Grech.
Ronald Ebejer
Apr 5th 2010, 11:12
As if it was only priests who abused children. if one were to see the amount of normal family people who abuse their children and nobody gives a damn about such serious abuses. And as for this man, it seems to me that he is not really interested in apologies or what not, but in money and more money. But he will have none. Not even if he goes to CNN or repubblica, he wont get neither an apology ffrom HH Pope Benedict and from no one else. In my memory the Archbishop of Malta has already asked forgiveness from one and all for any action committed by the local church against persons in Malta and abroad. But people are really not interested in such apologies. They want to get rich from past situations. But they will get nothing except our rage against people who think they can hold to ransom the Catholic Church established by none other than Christ Himself.
ray sacco
Apr 5th 2010, 19:14
@ronald ebejer:
how consoling of you, mr. ebejer. yes, you're right. its not only priests who abuse children. but the difference is that when an ordinary citizen is caught abusing a child, he/she is arraigned in court and sent to prison. on the other hand, clergy members got away with it and are still getting away with it! and with your comments (attacking the victims and defending the perverts), you seem to concur with this! the apology from the church is not for the abuse (for which no apology can be enough) but for the way the catholic church acted to conceal these perverts and left them hounding on new victims through out the years. this makes the church authorities (who ever they were and how ever high up in the hierarchy they are) accomplice in this horrible crime! if the victims were interested in money, why is it that the large majority of them do not want to start legal actions? nobody is interested in more vague apologies! they want justice!
Raymond Sammut
Apr 5th 2010, 22:18
@ Ronald Ebejer
Irrespective of whether an apology is forthcoming or not, the victim of abuse can still sue in a Civil Court. Also, whether compensation is awarded remains always at the discretion of the courts. How do you know a priori what the courts would do?
D. Xerri
Apr 5th 2010, 11:09
I still remember the Bondi-Plus Programme about children at St Joseph being abused by priests - Is this Man one of them ? As to what I remember there were 4 priests accused of child abuse in the Bondi Plus Programme - So what happenned ? Did all 4 priests run away or were given help to run away to live happily ever after - No One mentioned again those cases ! Whats goin on ? Does a priest have some kind of immunity or protection from Police Investigations ? The more I hear of these cases is the more I think of the Catholic Church Administration doing the exact opposite of what Jesus wanted ! Something is Terribly Wrong - were talking children and teenagers - their innocence and childhood abused and stolen away from them !
M Grima
Apr 5th 2010, 11:05
A long awaited and denied apology is in Order. So is trial by a Criminal Court for the abuser(s) in the open,and a handsome,and I mean handsome, reward for being subjected to years of abuse and even longer torment. This is not a petty crime as some in the Church are suggesting,neither is it trivial talk.
david vella
Apr 5th 2010, 11:02
Jesus was butchered and crucified and he never asked us, humans for an apology!!! Instead he asked his Daddy for our forgiveness!!! Who are we to ask God for an apology!!
What is true is that we lack the spirit of forgiving ourselves and I'm one of them. May God bless both victims and offenders in all cases!
Joe Mifsud
Apr 5th 2010, 11:49
Do not confuse a corrupt church with God! It was not God who did these things. It was the humans. Why should he not be entitled to an apology? He should be able to sue them as well (which I believe is the case from this article).
The cause of such acts is probably due to the sort of life that priests have to adhere to, i.e. abstinence from a partner. I am unaware of anywhere in the bible where it states that this is how our men of God should live, if someone knows of such a place in the bible please let me know. So, yes the church for perverting the words of the bible, for making priests follow a life of abstinence, the church is ultimately responsible for these actions and should issue an apology for these people (after all as can be seen from the pope's last apology to the irish, obviously he is accepting blame on behalf of the church; you cannot apologize if you have not done something wrong).
JF Grech
Apr 5th 2010, 15:32
Who are we to ask God for an apology? What blasphemy to say that the pope is God Mr Vella! He most certainly is not God and most certainly should be owning up to the church's consistent and systematic cover up of grievous crimes against children. How much evidence does it take??
Until Catholics wake up to this fact and to the utter corruption of this man made institution called the Catholic Church - God himself will continue to reveal the utter stench and filth that goes on behind "closed doors." These people called "holy fathers" are anything but and Christ had extremely harsh words for those like them - read the scriptures people!
My sincere support and admiration to Lawrence Grech and others who have come forward. I believe you sir and am truly sorry that you were not protected as a child.
ray sacco
Apr 5th 2010, 22:09
@david vella:
"GOD BLESS BOTH VICTIMS AND OFFENDERS"!!!!!!!!!!! ????????
with people like you and ronald ebejer, no wonder the catholic church is in this pathetic mess!
mjbagley
Apr 6th 2010, 08:09
David, I don't think God sanctioned abuse in His name. These people are asking apologies from those responsible, those who never supposed to allow it to happen in the first place. The offenders are human first and foremost, like you and me, and should be charged like normal human beings, to establish their innocence or guilt.
Louise Vella
Apr 5th 2010, 11:00
I admire Mr. Laurence Grech for his courage and persistence in wanting justice. If the Church is passing through “a moment of suffering” as Mgr Charles Cordina said, victims of priest sexual abuse pass through a lifetime of hell. To add insult to injury, the Church is now lambasting them for daring to speak out and seek justice.
eric saliba
Apr 5th 2010, 10:57
we should all offer unconditional support to laurence grech.
to think that 50 years ago labourites were hounded and interdicted and denied communion and a civilised burial.....and yet the church thought fit to cover up for these paedophile priests!!
Roderick Micallef
Apr 5th 2010, 10:33
Of all religions the Christian is without doubt the one which should inspire tolerance most, although up to now the Christians have been the most intolerant of all men.
Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet, It is said that men may not be the dreams of the Gods, but rather that the Gods are the dreams of men.
It may be that our role on this planet is not to worship God, but to create him.
I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires.
Clearly the person who accepts the Church as an infallible guide will believe whatever the Church teaches
The atheist does not say 'there is no God,' but he says 'I know not what you mean by God; I am without idea of God'; the word 'God' is to me a sound conveying no clear or distinct affirmation. ... The Bible God I deny; the Christian God I disbelieve in; but I am not rash enough to say there is no God as long as you tell me you are unprepared to define God to me
Christian Sciberras
Apr 5th 2010, 11:25
"Of all religions the Christian is without doubt the one which should inspire tolerance most, although up to now the Christians have been the most intolerant of all men. "
I believe both affirmations are wrong; there is very much tolerance in the Catholic church, but Catholics aren't tolerant at all. Eventhough I do not see Muslims as "evil", I still believe that Muslim fundamentalist are the worst when it comes to tolerance, this though, does not justify intolerance in Catholic societies, especially considering Catholics should know better.
As to your definition of God, do you write a paradox purposefully? How are you affirming that God is a dream/imagination and then saying that there might be a God?
Myself, I prefer to leave that of what I don't know to abstract subjects - religion.
I've considered changing my beliefs countless times, but the flaws in religion come from man, rather then because of teachings; I find Catholic teachings very suitable, but I dislike what certain Catholics do, be it pedophile priests or fundamentalists.
It is like cancer, really, creeping, from inside. I do admit, though, that to be an atheist is a breath of fresh air.
Joe Mifsud
Apr 5th 2010, 11:40
You may want to get your facts correct. An atheist at the end of the day is defined by the meaning of the word atheism. Most english dictionaries (I am aware of) provide the following defintions:
1. the doctrine or belief that there is no God.
2. disbelief in the existence of a supreme being or beings.
So, yes an atheist does say "There is no God.". If this is not the belief of the person, then he is not an atheist, but something else, perhaps such as an "Agnostic".
I always have one question for atheists (not agnostics): "How do you think it all started? Irrespective of the theory, how did the theory start, i.e. if you believe in the big bang, how did the big bang start? Where did that initial energy/matter come from?"
Jason Fenech
Apr 5th 2010, 14:41
Your definition is somewhat wrong as well. Atheism is neither a belief nor a doctrine. It is simply an absence of belief in the existence of any deity.
(http://atheism.about.com/od/definitionofatheism/p/AtheismReligion.htm)
As to your question, likewise I ask "who or what created god or gods for all we know?”.
Unless you can answer this, filling in the blanks with the word god accomplishes nothing and provides no real answers.
Joe Mifsud
Apr 5th 2010, 19:57
@Jason Fenech: No, the definition I quoted was not wrong. Please note it is not 'my' definition. The definition I provided was from: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/atheism Here are some more dictionaries (more credible as well): Cambridge: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=4607&dict=CALD&topic=believers-and-non-believers "someone who believes that God or gods do not exist" Merriam-webster: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheism "a : a disbelief in the existence of deity b : the doctrine that there is no deity" Please do not quote opinion when I am speaking about definition (i.e. meaning of the english word [irrespective of where the word came from]). As regards your logic it is completely hopeless. Number 1, you didn't answer the question; you just asked another question, so no merit there. Number 2, as you realized I am insinuating that a God exists which explains creation (I wont bother mentioning which beliefs I subscribe to as it is irrelevant.) Now, OBVIOUSLY I am referring to a God which is infinite, i.e. was there forever, so there was no creation of God; so as for your question of who created God I would have to say that it is complete stupidity.
Joe Mifsud
Apr 5th 2010, 20:01
Also, if you have a different definition of the word atheism from a dictionary please feel free to provide it.
Matt Bonanno
Apr 7th 2010, 12:13
"Where did that initial energy/matter come from?"
Fair enough question to ask. But with that argument, where did God's energy come from?
Joe Mifsud
Apr 9th 2010, 00:44
Matthew, as I explained in my previous post, questioning where God come from is irrelevant. The two different schools of thought are:
1. Creation by God, who is infinite (has been there forever), so nothing created him, this is a concept that us finite creatures find hard to understand.
and
2. That everything started at some finite point by means of some scientific phenomenon (most popular one being the big bang theory).
So, the first school of thought which relies on the notion that there is an infinite God and requires you to accept this notion. Thus if we subscribe to this school of thought, questioning where God came from is irrelevant, or rather nonsense. By
accepting this premise there are no "how's" left, it is complete.
If we subscribe to the second school of thought, i.e. say the big bang theory, there is still a hole in the theory as to how it began in the first place (where did the very initial energy/matter come from).
Joe Mifsud
Apr 9th 2010, 00:46
Faith is required in subscribing to either of the two.
The first requires faith in God.
The second requires faith in the theory; that although we have no clue to how the theory started, we believe it somehow did.
Christian Sciberras
Apr 19th 2010, 09:23
Matt, how do you know God is energy?
Give us a precise definition of God please.
On a second note; don't. You won't succeed. The term "God" is abstract. It could equate to everything around us; (energy, space and time) and it could also equate to an illusion inside the human brain's physiology.
In either case, it isn't the definition of God that should interest anyone, but rather what it represents.
John Falzon
Apr 5th 2010, 10:31
A disgrace that things are dragged out so long and certainly one that makes me wonder why this should be so. Hidden agendas perhaps ?
In any case, I think it should go further than just a simple apology.
Just as Jesus Christ took on the sins of the world and died on the cross for us all, so the Pope as his representative should take on the sins of these priests and make a definitive act of contrition that involves a personal sacrifice.
More specifically he should RESIGN as an act of redemption for the many sins committed.
Without any action, it is all just so much hot air.
Joe Xuereb
Apr 5th 2010, 10:03
The priests dressed the boys in girls' clothes?! Gets more bizarre by the minute. But then, human fantasies have no limits.