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	No Place for Priests Who Harm Children Times of Malta April 12, 2010 http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100412/opinion/editorial The biggest challenge the Catholic Church is facing at the moment is the need to fully demonstrate her clear, determined and unequivocal stand of zero tolerance to child sexual abuse and to put people's minds at rest there is no place in the priesthood and religious life for those who would harm the young. Seen in this context, the Maltese bishops' statement on the horror surrounding the criminal acts of child abuse, especially when perpetrated by members of the clergy, the shame and humiliation that such abuses bring upon the Church, their expression of sympathy with the victims and the admission that there is a need for repentance for the sins of those who committed these abuses, is another important feature in what the Church in Malta has been doing in this regard. To her credit, the Church in Malta was among the first to take action on the issue of sexual abuse. In 1999, she introduced her own policy and procedure in this regard. It recognised that prevention had to do with the careful selection of all pastoral functionaries, their education regarding the risks involved together with the precautions to be taken. She also outlined the structures and the procedures to be followed whenever a complaint is brought to her attention. To deal with these issues, in 1999, the Church appointed a response team, under the chairmanship of a retired judge. Another response team was set up a few months ago. If and when allegations of sexual abuse are reported, the response teams gather the relevant information and submit a report and recommendations to the respective Church authority. Yet, many people continue to have strong reservations about the fact that the proceedings of the response teams are conducted in camera and that the Church does not report cases to the police. The Church says that the response teams' policy of confidentiality is in accordance with Canon Law and norms. She adds that experience shows that, in the majority of cases before the response teams, the alleged victim, being child or adult, and his or her family, show great reluctance to have the matter under investigation made public. The Church further argues that the response teams' deliberations remain of a preliminary nature and are in no way intended to substitute the state's role and responsibilities when dealing with investigating, examining and judging allegations of abuse. In their statement, the bishops declared that the Church in Malta continues to intensify its commitment towards battling abuse. This assurance is most welcome. However, when it comes to the protection of individuals, especially vulnerable people, the state has its role too. It was therefore good to hear the Prime Minister say that the government is open to talks on changes to the law regulating investigations on child abuse and also speaking in favour of having a professional, scientific discussion that leads to just conclusions. There are people who feel the state should examine, with the help of seasoned experts, whether the best protection of children from child abuse, wherever it comes from, justifies the consideration of an amendment in the Criminal Code to allow the police to institute criminal proceedings against alleged offenders ex officio instead of waiting for the victims or their guardians to make a complaint. The state must ensure that all necessary mechanisms and procedures are in place so that, whenever child abuse proceedings are instituted, judgment is delivered as early as possible in the best interest of all.
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