Kurt Sansone, Juan Ameen
Police again question nun over child abuse claims
Lourdes Home
Police investigations into abuse allegations at Gozo's Lourdes Home are continuing and a Dominican nun at the centre of the allegations, made by a boy who was in her care, was yesterday called in for renewed questioning by the police, The Times has learned.
Police sources said the nun was detained for some time at police headquarters in Floriana.
The nun, who lives at the Dominican Order’s Pompeii House in Victoria, was interrogated for the first time by the vice squad last Friday in Gozo.
Officially, the police would only confirm that the nun’s case was being investigated without giving any details. “It is not prudent to comment on this case,” the police said.
The incident allegedly happened five years ago although it remains unclear what type of abuse is being alleged.
The boy, in his teens, was one of 10 remaining children relocated from the Gozo orphanage three years ago when it was permanently closed down after a commission set up by Gozo Bishop Mario Grech found instances of physical and psychological abuse of minors by nuns who ran the home.
The Dominican Order has so far refused to comment on the allegations.
Attempts to contact the Dominican Order’s Mother General, Sister Carmelita Borg, over the past two days have proved futile with nuns answering the phone insisting she was not there.
Mgr Grech had set up the commission, chaired by Judge Victor Caruana Colombo, in 2006 to investigate allegations of ill-treatment of children by the nuns.
The allegations were aired on the television programme Bondiplus, where eight alleged victims – who were in their late 20s, 30s, and 40s – had come forward to recount their experience.
During the programme, one man recounted how he was force-fed and when he was sick he was made to re-ingest his vomit. Another said a hot iron was placed on his hand by a nun and a woman spoke about how she was dragged by the hair along a corridor.
The report had identified Sr Dorothy Mizzi and Sr Josephine Anne Sultana, as perpetrators of the abuse. Sr Mizzi is vicar general of the congregation.
Mgr Grech had asked for forgiveness from those who were abused as children while residing at the home. When allegations related to the treatment of children at the home first surfaced in 1999, the diocese had set up a commission, which had drawn up a report that concluded those claims were unfounded.
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Luke Spiteri
Aug 7th 2011, 10:56
X'sar minnha din l-istorja!!!
Antoine Psaila
May 26th 2011, 10:28
Meta kelli hames snin kont nattendi l-iskola ta St.Francis Hal-Qormi. Darba ta tifel li kont irremetejt fil-klassi bhal ma hafna tfal ta dik l-eta jaghmlu. Is-soru kienet gelietni nimsah ir-remetar minn ma l-art bis-sarvetta li kienet ittini ommi biex meta niekol il-lunch naghmilha fuq il-mejda.
Luke Spiteri
Jun 1st 2011, 22:25
Jiena mod differenti. Jiena skola primarja kont nattendi go skola tal-knisja tas-sorijiet. U niftakar b'mod car kif kienet itini bir-riga ta'l-injam fuq il-pala ta idejha. U tghidlek "touch your toes" biex titbaxxa tmiss ponot subghajk u itijk daqqa bir-riga. Jew xi gibda mill-barbetti. Jidispjacini li minn hafna affarijiet li kien hemm fl-iskola dawn niftakar bl-isem ezatt tal-persuna responsabbli ta' l-iskola.
Joseph Stephen Galea
May 26th 2011, 05:34
Just reminds me of Dr Harry Vassallo's incident just before the last General Election.
Gerry Cowie
May 25th 2011, 20:26
I thought it was important to prove somebody was actually guilty before sentencing them!
The amount of abuse in families and secular society in general far outweighs what has happened in the Church, though nobody would ever say that it was in the least important because it is convenient to concentrate solely on the Church.
These columns are constantly mentioning abuse by individuals. It happens all the time.
However all those guilty of such crimes, whatever their role in life, should be treated with the same full force of the law!
Mr J Galea
May 25th 2011, 19:22
While we sometimes read that god intervene to heal a child or a nun with Parkinson disease, we never hear or read about god intervening for innocent abused children.Some believers say that this is part of god's plan for humanity.
Quoting :Gene Roddenberry
We must question the story logic of having an all-knowing all-powerful God, who creates faulty Humans, and then blames them for his own mistakes.
Mr Joseph Calleja
May 25th 2011, 15:29
Let us let the law do their job. The only thing I ask is that this investigation is done by independent outside investigators and it be taken away from under the Curia control. The Curia has never come out clean before and not to be trusted. The hiding incident of the 3 pedophile priests is proof enough. Is Mgr Grech willing to forgive those who vote for divorce this Saturday? The bishop should have compared the Curia with the wolf in sheep's clothing. Excellent example.
Miriam Sammut
May 25th 2011, 15:13
One reason the chuch loses credibility is due to the fact that it treats people as imbeciles in order to cover up ill deeds of its members. If walls could talk they'd vouch for instances where those responsible for the good of the 'flock' have been made aware of ill-doings and have turned away in order to preserve the church's 'image' ...and this regarding testimonials from sdifferent people about the same particular case.
Ms Martina Baldacchino
May 25th 2011, 12:52
if found guilty, strip off the nuns' uniforms and lock them in jail!
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
May 25th 2011, 12:50
While I am totally against the Church's deliberate delaying tactics and the farce surrounding the Review Team, the Church's refusal to report incidents to the police and to act in the best interest of children, the nun must neither be judged by the media nor must she be required to provide an interview to the police. She like every other Maltese citizen - presumably - has a right to remain silent. She is not required by law to incriminate herself. That is why all these allegations of abuse must be taken away from the Church and investigated by the civil authorities "ab initio". The Church simply cannot be trusted. My fear is that nuns are being held out as sacrificial lambs while men with dog collars around their necks are simply getting away with it. Perhaps an independent civil court to look at these cases is what is required but a court that is not in the hands of some fanatical Catholic magistrate or judge. This matter should have nothing to do with the current referendum. I feel sorry for the boy but I also feel sorry for the nun. Nuns do a lot of the dirty work that priests go nowehere near.
Ms Maria Vella
May 25th 2011, 12:48
Of course it is only just that such claims are investigated but one wonders why this is being brought up now. After all the 'victim' in person was not a young child but a teenager......having said that one cannot really jump to any conclusions.
If these allegations turn out to be true then hopefully the perpetrators will be brought to justice. If these allegations are untrue then the person making them should be punished.
Rennie Mercieca
May 25th 2011, 12:29
Whilst I agree on the usage of the word "forgiveness", may I just ask why priests continuously are saying to elderly people that if they vote YES in the divorce referendum it's a mortal sin. Isn't child abuse a sin as well? Aren't these elderly people voting this saturday entitled to forgiveness as well?
Ms A. Axisa
May 25th 2011, 15:15
I didn't know that only elderly people were voting yes this saturday? Where did you hear that?!! And of course, as I said below...forgiveness can be given..but one must be sincerely sorry for having done something in order to receive forgiveness. So if someone plans on voting yes, simply because he/she can be forgiven later, you're mistaken sorry.
wendy isaac
May 25th 2011, 11:46
These sort of indecent going ons must have been gone for hundreds of years in enclosed home, yes the nuns or priests or whatever they call themselves but now with the aid of modern technology people have come to realise that not all that glitters is gold, and before some bright Maltese spark starts to slum the UK, i say YES mosd defintily even worse then your tiny weeny islands or as history tells us - a dot in the med.
Maureen Stewart - Friend.
Mr M Briffa Viva malta
May 25th 2011, 16:01
Yes my British friend i take it you are British or orignate from that cold area of europe, you made your point clearly. Besides the Britain is much larger then the dot in the mediterranean as you put it.and this is exactly why this is a safe country comparing with yours, but helas we are not all Angels and nobody is perfect.
Mr Albert Farrugia
May 25th 2011, 11:29
And yet, no jounalist seems to be asking a most pertinent question: Why is this case being brought up now? The Tv programme mentioned was aired some 2 or 3 years ago. The Home in question, as far as I know, is closed, at least as a children's home. What made the police act now? In the current Great Religious Question which Malta is facing, such a question should be asked. This does not in any way suggest that the act was not punishable, but people of good will who still are using their heads this week (something which becomes very rare when Malta votes) will find the timing very interesting. What does for example the MInister of Justice have to say on this?
David Caruana
May 25th 2011, 11:54
Oh my oh my! The usual conspiracy theories to destroy the Church?
You need to ask the boy/man who filed the report! Simple!
Mr Chris Mifsud
May 25th 2011, 14:17
"In the current Great Religious Question which Malta is facing, such a question should be asked"
It is NOT a religious question that Malta is facing. What makes me sick is that the bishops and clergymen like GonziPN etc.. keep bringing religion into the divorce issue. I think people like MGR Tonio Fenech and his kind should be concerned with the abused children crying not the virgin mary.
If found guilty this nun and any other nuns or priests who may have been involved should be de-frocked, named and be given jail sentences. If anyone knew about this and didnt give information they too should be jailed. That includes any priests, nuns, bishops etc.
Mr Adrian Borg Cardona
May 25th 2011, 15:32
Have you considered that the case has been 'brought up now' because the abuse is very recent? And what do you mean, 'brought up now'? The police arrested the nun - the abuse was not brought up by the media now as you are trying to imply. People of good will and who reason things out do not see any conspiracy theories here - only those who's intent is to cover this kind of abuse do so. And the Minister of Justice has nothing to do with this - it is a police investigation and God help this country if we go back to the times when a Minister (whether of the State or of the Church) intervenes in police work.
Mr Peter Mercieca
May 25th 2011, 11:28
The fact that they were nuns just adds to the sensationalistic element of these times, in my view they are human above all and thus should be fully liable to the harshest side of the law, like any other abusive parent and child carer would be. Putting these poeple on TV is fine and increases awareness of their plight but we must make sure all abuse victims get the same exposure and the same response for retribution. The act of confession clears ones failings with God, but it doesn't remove and exclude the need to do penance or jail time!
Mr joe vella
May 25th 2011, 11:08
Mgr Grech 'asked for forgiveness' will he forgive me if I vote yes next saturday?
same as clericals are prone to mistakes, errors etc and are 'forgiven' am I, as a layman, not entitled to similar forgiveness?
Ms A. Axisa
May 25th 2011, 15:11
Of course you are...as long as you would be really sorry for what you had done...you can't be forgiven unless you're sorry, right?
Ms Louise Vella
May 25th 2011, 10:47
The root of the problem is the dishonesty of bishops and religious superiors who look after their own and protect child abusers instead of children. People all over the world now know that bishops desperately keep offenders under wraps and away from public eyes.
For the Church the most important thing is the preservation of its reputation rather than the disclosure of the truth and the protection of children. What really hurts is the fact that many bishops and religious superiors knew that priests/nuns were abusing children and they have not done their duty to protect children. They did not do anything to avoid new victims because they covered-up child abusers. The Police must ask bishops to provide them with all files dealing with abusive priests and nuns, past and present. Anyone who was /is involved in covering-up child abusers should also be investigated by the police.
Releasing names to the public is vital for protecting children, healing victims and helping other victims come forward, knowing they are not alone. It takes time for people to come forward because of the trauma. Hopefully, continued exposure will make it easier for victims to surmount their suffering and embarrassment and come forward.
Mr Ernest Vella
May 25th 2011, 11:01
Jon, dawk huma l-mikrija u mhux il-briganti...il-mikrija jitradixxu lir-raghaj u lil merhla.
Mr Ernest Vella
May 25th 2011, 11:01
Jon, dawk huma l-mikrija u mhux il-briganti...il-mikrija jitradixxu lir-raghaj u lil merhla.
Ms A. Axisa
May 25th 2011, 15:10
Ms Vella...please note...the Pope already issued in writing that these religious should be treated just like any other...so that means the cases will be passed on to the police anyway...
Mr Jon Shaw
May 25th 2011, 10:44
I think that the recent incident in Gozo where the term 'wolves in sheep skin' was used is more appropriate to this case and similar incidents which involve the clergy......
Ms A. Axisa
May 25th 2011, 15:08
Oh come on!!! Stop generalising!
If so...should we fear all men because a number of them rape women?! Should we fear all men because a number are pedophiles?! Come on!
Mr Jon Shaw
May 25th 2011, 18:02
pls read my comment again ie:....'' is more appropriate to this case and similar incidents which involve the clergy'' .... im not generalizing but referring to this particular abuse case and similar incidents....
jayne chetcuti
May 25th 2011, 10:40
there is absolutely no excuse for this disgusting treatment of children whether they were naughty or not does not merit being forced any kind of abuse and those who try to justify this treatment on these poor helpless children should be ashamed of themselve.children are ther to nurture and cherish,they are a blessing to us and after all we are the adults and have to teach our children right ont wrong in a kind and patient manner.shame on this nun, if she is guilty, and any other human who takes it unto himself to abuse our children in any way.it makes me sick to my stomach every time i read this stuff.
Kevin Aquilina
May 25th 2011, 10:37
As expected, someone who is deprived of life's natural joys and who lives a life far away from current familiar society might easily view common misbehaviour as gross misconduct and exercise his frustrations on those at hand who cannot defend themselves. Being religious doesn't put them above nature nor render them any deities. Unlike mothers and fathers, a nun's life is not dedicated at raising their (under their custody) children but at religious service, in whichever way their mind may deem right. This is just a reality orphaned children has faced, are facing and will be facing.
Ms A. Axisa
May 25th 2011, 15:07
Hopefully they won't be facing it Mr Aquilina...
I praise a large number of priests and nuns who give themselves for others...I do.
I also agree with the Pope who (finally) declared these people should receive the same treatment as any other abusers.
Mr Ernest Vella
May 25th 2011, 09:54
Ejjew inhalli li ssir gustizzja, u min hu hati jiehu dak li haqqu, imma mhux sew li mal-veru ftit li ghamlu dawn l-abbuzi..kienu x'kienu....jehlu l-istra maggoranza tan-nies li fi hdan il-Knisja qed jaghtu kontribut siewi lil ohrajn. Mhux sew li ahna naqtghu qalb dawn in-nies li jaghmlu kull sagrificcju billi nitfghu lil kulhadd f'kappell wiehed.
Mhux sew li hawn min qed jipprova jhallat din il-pjaga socjali, u pjaga fil-Knisja ma l-issue tad-divorzju...ghax ma nkunux qed naghmlu servizz lil familji taghna u lil pajjizna. Li tirbah akkost ta kollox naha jew ohra, billi nitfghu lil kulhadd f'dell ikrah mhuwiex gust lejn il-poplu taghna u lejn pajjizna.
Ms A. Axisa
May 25th 2011, 15:05
Thank you Mr Vella...finally someone who understands that religious people are not all the same, just like lay people...
Joseph Borg
May 25th 2011, 09:37
Please don't get me wrong - all form of abuse is punishable.
BUT I ask, where were the parents of these children? Do we know what these nuns were going through. Sometimes it is very difficult to control one's own children, so imagine these women having to bring up the children of others and most probably would have some 6 or more children under each nun's care.
Joseph Borg
May 25th 2011, 10:22
Whilst I agree with you about the question you asked....I cant agree with you about the second part......WHO OBLIGED THEM TO BECOME NUNS?? WHO OBLIGED THEM TO TAKE CARE OF CHILDREN?? I guess it was their choice! In my job I take care of a lot of people mainly elderly people....sometimes you pass through difficult times but IT WAS MY CHOICE to do such job and I NEVER USE MY FRUSTRATION ON OTHERS.
ABUSE should always be punished, irrelevant who you are, irrelevant whats your job and irrelevant the reason behind it. Li jbezzani li bhas soltu ghax membri tal knisja jghaddi kollox taht it-tapit u ntuwhom transfer x imkien iehor bhal ma gara fil passat.
Ahjar il flus li il knisja qed tahli biex tissaportja il moviment le tuzhom biex tghin lil dawk in nies li qed ibghatu u tipprovdi counseling lill dawn is-sorijiet u appogg dicenti....mhux issa nigu gimgha ohra neqirdu li l knisja qed tfalli finanzjarjament u teqred ghal ghajnuna. Dan hu hsieb Mons Grech u mhux tbezza in nies bil babaw!
Ray Gatt
May 25th 2011, 11:41
Are you serious????????????
Mr Adrian Borg Cardona
May 25th 2011, 15:25
So in your opinion in the circumstances these nuns find themselves in, it is OK to beat up children. Nothing excuses violence, Mr. Borg, understand - NOTHING.
Ms C. Dimech
May 25th 2011, 09:09
and what happened to the nuns who perpetrated this abuse? let me guess....safely ensconced in the loving, understanding and forgiving arms of the church, the same loving, understanding and forgiving arms we have all had the priviledge to witness in this past month. Talk about wolves in sheep's clothing!!!
Mr Beppe Pisani
May 25th 2011, 09:07
Some Maltese clergy men and women are making a mockery of Jesus Christ and his teachings!!. Father or Mr Grech should resign with immediate effect.
We ask our politicians to resign when there is something suspicious and then the leaders of the Church which for all intents and purposes is run like a State (canon law, tribunals, banks etc etc and etc) are not liable.!!..............please give us a break...............l-importanti li kontra d-divorzju with a passion Mr Grech!