(Adds MSSP's statement)

The Vatican has declared Fr Conrad Sciberras MSSP not guilty of sexual abuse claims for lack of corroborative evidence, timesofmalta.com has been informed.

Victims of clerical abuse had made claims against Fr Sciberras which were investigated by the  Curia’s response team with the acquittal having been confirmed by the Vatican in a decree.

Restrictions on his ministry were put in place as a precautionary measure.

In a statement this evening, the MSSP said that yesterday, Superior General Fr Bernard Mangion recieved a note from the Congregation for the Doctrine
of Faith that confirmed the decision of the Penal Administrative Process with regards to Fr Conrad.

This said that “since moral certainty has not been attained that Fr Conrad Sciberras is being found guilty of having sexually abused a number of minors in the terms of current Jurisprudence”, a negative decision was given as to whether Fr Conrad sexually abused minors.

Since evidence gives rise to serious suspicions, Fr Sciberras is having his Sacred Ministry restricted to be with persons of adult age, the statement said.

On August 16, Fr Sciberras, a member of the Missionary Society of St Paul, filed a judicial protest against Lawrence Grech complaining about allegations which Mr Grech was making about him.

Fr Sciberras said Mr Grech was speaking as if these allegations were a fact, even though he had never been subjected to any criminal proceedings and none were pending. 

Fr Sciberras said that on the insistence of Mr Grech and other parties within the hierarchy of the church, he had appeared before the Church's Response Team, which was the equivalent of a compilation of evidence.  He has also been subjected to a Church administrative process which was similar to a trial, and a decree had been issued.

Since the decree was awaiting confirmation by the Vatican at that time, the outcome could not be revealed.

However, Fr Sciberras said, Mr Grech's allegations (about abuse at St Joseph's Home) were causing undue pressure on him and prejudicing the case at a time when the decree still had to be confirmed.

Fr Sciberras noted that he had taken no action when Mr Grech 'blatantly lied' that he had escaped from Malta - a short time before the Pope's visit to Malta - even though he knew this was not true. 

He had also not acted when Mr Grech in testimony under oath changed his version several times.

Mr Grech stood his ground and challenged Fr Sciberras to a meeting on TV with abuse victims.