An international support group for clergy abuse victims, Snap, has called on Canadian authorities to move to apprehend Godwin Scerri before he disappeared.

Mr Scerri, a defrocked priest and a member of the Missionary Society of St Paul, was three years ago jailed five years after he was found guilty of sexual abuse on young boys in his care. He was paroled yesterday.

He is wanted by the Ontario provincial police in Canada having avoided prosecution there two decades ago when he fled to Malta.

“We beg anyone who saw, suspected or suffered Scerri’s crimes – in Canada, Malta or elsewhere – to find courage, speak up, call police, expose wrongdoers and protect kids.

"We urge Catholic officials in Canada to use pulpit announcements, church bulletins and parish websites to warn parents, police, parishioners and the public about Scerri,” they said.

The Maltese government said yesterday that although it did not agree with the Parole Board's decision, it respected its independence.

Earlier, the Church Commission for the Safeguarding of Children and Vulnerable Adults said that decisions on prisoners being granted parole were taken by the Parole Board.

It said the decision taken by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in October 2011, by means of which Br Scerri was removed from the clerical state, remained unchanged.