Dominican friar tight-lipped on Rome meeting

Outspoken Dominican friar Fr Mark Montebello said he had been asked not to comment about a meeting with the Order's Superior after he was summoned to Rome.

Contacted yesterday, Fr Montebello said the orders came from Rome, adding that he was not stopped from writing in newspapers about other issues.

The controversial cleric was called to Rome at the end of last month for a meeting with the master of the Dominican Order, Fr Carlos Aspiroz Costa.

The issue revolves around articles Fr Montebello wrote in newspapers about divorce and paedophilia together and his defence of a Nigerian man, 33-year-old Monday Iseki, who was charged with resisting arrest.

"I was asked not to give comments because the issue is still being considered internally," he said a day after his return from Rome.

He insisted that the ban was a temporary one, although he stopped short from giving more information.

The Dominican Order in Rome was unable to confirm the instructions issued to Fr Montebello because the priest responsible for the Malta branch was abroad.

Scores of e-mails in support of Fr Montebello were sent to the Dominican Order in Rome before the meeting.

Fr Montebello was disciplined by his local superior last November for "offending the sentiment of the Maltese" after he said he believed Jesus was in favour of divorce and that crucifixes did not need to be "flaunted" in public buildings.