Gozo Bishop Mario Grech has taken the decision to start hearing annulment cases himself this week in a bid to ease the backlog that delayed couples' chance to make a fresh start.

The Church's Ecclesiastical Tribunal in Gozo has 80 pending cases of failed marriages and with just eight cases processed in a year, Mgr Grech feared if the current rhythm was sustained some couples could be waiting for 10 years.

Mgr Grech, who was the Judicial Vicar for the Ecclesiastical Tribunal in Gozo, before his appointment as bishop in 2006, said: "I do not believe it is fair to let these people wait for so long."

While appealing to anyone who could help him in the field, Mgr Grech made it known that from this week he would be reserving half-a-day every week to start hearing cases. He has already asked Gozo's Judicial Vicar to pass on a case.

"I know it is unusual for a diocesan bishop to serve as a judge, but I am doing this as an emergency measure until the number of pending cases is drastically reduced," he said.

Mgr Grech made the announcement yesterday during the annual general meeting for the diocesan clergy at the seminary where New Year greetings were exchanged.

He said he had been working to help the tribunal's officials clear the backlog for the past three years.

He also approached 15 priests and laymen to lend a helping hand, but not all these attempts succeeded.

Mgr Grech then discussed the matter with the College of Parish Priests and the Presbyterian Council, but he still failed to find an adequate solution. At the moment, the tribunal has just four judges (as well as six auditors, two chancellors and three defenders of the bond) and nobody worked full-time, Mgr Grech told The Sunday Times, adding that the collection of evidence was a lengthy process. Two of the judges were also parish priests, which meant they were overloaded with work.

During his address, Mgr Grech spoke about the urgent need for education, highlighting priests' important role in the parish.

"The parish is the spring that feeds today's generation. If we are not careful and move with the times, the water from the spring may become murky or scarce," he said.

"We need to ask if we are renewing our structures according to ecclesiastical guidelines and the needs of people today."