Five people had their pastoral activity restricted by the Church after its so-called Safeguarding Commission investigated 46 people last year following claims of abuse.
Seven other cases are still undergoing an assessment. The Commission said it could not substantiate 20 of the cases reported to it, due to insufficient evidence.
The Commission, which was set up last year, investigates any cases of emotional, physical and sexual abuse and neglect by members of the Church, including clergy and lay people.
Two-thirds of the cases, 31, involved minors, while the remaining 15 were complaints from vulnerable adults, the Commission said yesterday. Only one of the cases involving children was substantiated.
We identify a certain element of risk and we make recommendations accordingly
Speaking to this newspaper following a press conference yesterday, Commission head Andrew Azzopardi said that despite the fact that some cases were unsubstantiated, the Commission would still take action to ensure the protection of minors and vulnerable adults.
“If there is a case where the claims are unsubstantiated but we identify a certain element of risk, we make recommendations anyway,” Mr Azzopardi said.
He said there were a number of cases where despite the claims not being backed up by evidence, the Commission felt that the person reported needed a certain amount of training.
“It all depends on a case-by-case basis. We don’t focus on whether the person is guilty or not. We identify a certain element of risk and we make recommendations accordingly,” the Commission head said.
On the form of abuse reported, Mr Azzopardi said that while most of the complaints were about sexual abuse, the Commission also followed up on complaints about physical and emotional abuse as well as of neglect, bullying and poor practice.
Mr Azzopardi said the Commission was also calling on the government to set up an authority to protect minors and vulnerable adults.
The authority would establish a structure to share information between organisations and would be tasked with revising existing procedures so that the names of perpetrators are placed on the Register for the Protection of Minors.