Pope expected to meet abuse victims
The child abuse victims during a press conference last week.
A van carrying eight men was driven into the grounds of the Apostolic Nunciature in Rabat at about noon today amid indications that the Pope may be meeting the alleged victims of child abuse when he returns there after Mass.
An eyewitness said one of the passengers was Lawrence Grech, the spokesman of the victims. Mgr Anton Gouder was also in the vehicle.
The van was under police escort.
A spokesman for the Vatican yesterday did not rule out the possibility of the meeting, but said it would not be announced beforehand.
The victims, who say they were victims of abuse on St Joseph Home, Sta Venera, had called for a short, private meeting with the Pope after having met Archbishop Paul Cremona.
The Daily Telegraph said an encounter with the Maltese victims would be a way for the Vatican to dampen down some of the anger over the paedophile sex abuse scandals which have emerged around the world in the last few months.
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Joe Grecj
Apr 18th 2010, 14:14
@Sean Grima - What you state is very true. Are you happy with the present state of our judiciary? One calamity follows another ...with regular, much damaging, precision! Please do send a comment...
marthese mussett
Apr 18th 2010, 13:57
These victims were very brave to speak up.They definately are not earning anything out of it,all they want is at least an apology and a word of comfort,because the comfort they needed when they were younger....did nt come,they were abused instead.Hope justice will be done,with ALL victims of abuse,whether it was done by a priest or not.
C.Busuttil
Apr 18th 2010, 13:56
@Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Hemm bost kazi quddiem il-qorti jekk jinstabu hatja jiehdu dak li haqqhom. Illum u l-bierah il-poplu Malti ta' risposta lil kulhadd AHNA WARA L-PAPA ghax huwa l-Vigaru ta' Kristu f'din id-dinja.
Il-htija ta' ftit mhux il-htija ta' kollha, Aqta qalbek!!!! u tkomplix thalli hin, Malta mhux ser tichad qatt il-Papa ghax dak maghzul mill-Ispirtu s-Santu u trid aktar minn grupp fuq Facebook u xi ktieb kontroversjali biex tirbah il-Kristu. X'tahseb li ha jirnexxilek int fejn fallew l-Imperaturi !!!!! Hallina tridx
PS- Issa uza l-iskuza li dan mhux kliem ta' nisrani, tibzax fuq dan dak narah jien mal-Mulej imma jekk tahseb li ahna ha noghoqdu naqlaw go fina sejjer hazin..... enough is enough specjalment ma min haseb li ser jirrovina zjarja tal-Papa.....
Edwin Zahra
Apr 18th 2010, 13:50
We welcome the Church decision to meet these victims, however I hope this will not be a PR exercise for Where's Everybody.
Sean Grima
Apr 18th 2010, 13:47
the government (executive) cannot interfere in the working of the judiciary. it is called the separation of powers and is at the basis of every modern democracy.
M.Cachia
Apr 18th 2010, 14:10
Hear hear
Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Apr 18th 2010, 13:18
When will they get justice, I wonder? When will the civil courts finalise all matters if they are in the civil courts at all? When will the government take a lead in such matters of what some call 'indiscretions'?
Joseph Grech
Apr 18th 2010, 13:17
This is certainly most welcome news! A very wise decision by the Pope.