Ten clerical child abuse victims are suing two priests, the Church and the government for damages.

The victims are not asking for a specific amount but are expecting the court to appoint an expert to identify what losses they suffered as a direct result of the abuse.

The civil lawsuit was filed by Lawrence Grech, Joseph Magro, Leonard Camilleri, David Cassar, Noel Dimech, Angelo Spiteri, Raymond Azzopardi, Charles Falzon, Phillip Cauchi and Joseph Mangion.

They requested a court-appointed expert to identify what losses they had suffered

They filed the case against former priests Godwin Scerri and Charles Pulis, the Missionary Society of St Paul (MSSP), the Archdiocese of Malta and the directors general at the Office of the Prime Minister, the Education and Employment Ministry and the Social Solidarity and Family Ministry.

In August 2011, former MSSP members Mr Scerri, 75, and Mr Pulis, 64, were sentenced to five and six years’ imprisonment respectively for sexually abusing 11 boys in their care at St Joseph Home in Santa Venera some 20 years earlier.

Mr Pulis was defrocked during the proceedings while Mr Scerri’s defrocking followed the court judgment.

A month after the judgment was confirmed on appeal, the victims filed an official letter in December demanding compensation after they alleged that the authorities knew of the abuse and did nothing about it. They asked for the court to liquidate damages.

A declaration by Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna last October that the compensation should be paid by the abusers and not by the Maltese Church infuriated the victims.

Speaking for the group, Mr Grech said the bishop was “too soft to penetrate the Maltese Curia”, adding that they were upset because he promised to help them.

Mgr Scicluna had said in August 2011 that the victims should demand compensation in the civil courts but that the Church should also be “proactive to help them psychologically and, if need be, financially”.