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	Archbishop to Meet Victims of Alleged Child Abuse Times of Malta April 13, 2010 http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100412/local/alleged-child-abuse-victims-reiterate-call-for-meeting-with-pope Archbishop Paul Cremona has accepted to meet a group of men who allegedly suffered child abuse while they were resident at St Joseph Institute in Sta Venera. The Curia said the Archbishop had agreed to meet the men without prejudice to the proceedings which are still ongoing in the Civil Courts and the Church's Response Team. The group earlier today called for closed meetings with Pope Benedict, Archbishop Cremona and Mgr Charles Scicluna, the Promoter of Justice in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. They said at a press conference that they were seeking justice from the church but were not seeking financial compensation. A number of the men seven years ago instituted court proceedings against three priests. The case proceedings are still under way. Lawrence Grech, who spoke for the group, said that they welcomed the statement made last week by the Vatican spokesman that the Pope was willing to meet victims of abuse. "We are asking to meet the Pope for a few minutes to help us heal and to overcome this trauma," he said. The group is also asking the Pope to condemn child abuse cases by members of the clergy in Malta. Mr Grech said the members of the group did not intend to protest during the Pope's visit to Malta and they condemned the vandalism made on the billboards of the Papal visit. They said they had nothing against the Church or the Pope, but wanted justice. Broadcaster Lou Bondi' who helped in the organisation of the press conference after having featured these cases in his TV programme some years ago, such that the priests allegedly involved in these cases were no longer exercising their ministry in public. He appealed to the court to conclude the pending court case as soon as possible. The group is made up of 11 men, including one who joined with fresh allegations only recently.
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