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	Abuse Victims in Renewed Appeal to Pope By Chiara Bonello Malta Independent January 9, 2011 http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=118308 Seven of the alleged priest abuse victims who grew up at St Joseph's Institute in Sta Venera have launched an urgent appeal to Pope Benedict XVI, asking that the priests accused of abusing them to be dealt with by the clerical authorities. They have also complained that they remain in the dark as to whether it is the Archdiocese of Malta or the Vatican that is to have the final say on the priests' future as far as their clerical standing is concerned. "We are very disappointed that these priests are still going about in clerical clothes," the victims said in their letter to the Pope, seen by The Malta Independent on Sunday, which called on the Pontiff to help them close this ugly chapter in their lives. The letter, dated 27 December, noted that Mgr Charles Scicluna − the Promoter of Justice in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Vatican − had concluded his investigations in September and had sent his findings to the Archdiocese. In the meantime, the Archdiocese's response team investigated the allegations and, aided by Mgr Scicluna's findings, arrived at the conclusion that the victims' allegations were founded. Towards the end of October all the victims received a letter from Fr Louis Mallia, superior general of the Missionary Society of St Paul (MSSP), telling them their case against Fr Charles Pulis, Fr Conrad Sciberras and Bro Joseph Bonnett was to be sent to the Vatican for adjudication. While the letter thanks Pope Benedict XVI for all he has done for them, it also asks why the Church in Malta continues to protect these scandals, why it has appointed the best criminal lawyers in Malta and why nothing has happened, despite the priests admitting to the abuse back in 2003. "We sent a letter to Pope Benedict XVI because we would like to know where we stand," Lawrence Grech, the victims' spokesman, told this newspaper yesterday. There has since been silence, and it seems the Church is hoping that things will die down, he said. The letter was also picked up by Italian newspaper La Repubblica, which reported yesterday that despite meeting with the Pope in April, nothing has changed for the victims since then. The letter's message to the Pope remains very clear, La Repubblica said − it expresses the victims' disappointment that the priests are still going about in clerical garb. The article also refers to a constitutional case filed earlier this week by lawyer Gianella Caruana Curran who is defending the priests, claiming that 'media overexposure' has breached their right to a fair hearing. The priests are claiming a breach of their right to a fair hearing as a result of the publicity given to their case and asking for the enforcement of a 2003 press ban. They are claiming that due to the over-exposure given to their case, when it has not yet been decided, they are effectively being tried by the media. They also said that sections of the media are already passing judgement, when the case was still sub judice. "The constitutional case was not a surprise for me, I saw it coming," Mr Grech said, particularly in view of the fact that a judgement against the priests is expected in the first months of this year. "All they can do is play for time, as they have no other options," he said. The Church is trying to hush the case up, and it is strong enough to do so, he said, adding that, on the other hand, he will continue to speak up. La Repubblica also quotes Mr Grech's fear that their cases may end up being buried, something that he feels the Church is attempting to see done, he told The Malta Independent on Sunday yesterday. He is, however, still determined to do what he can to see justice served. Police investigations into the allegations of abuse at St Joseph Institute in Sta Venera started in 2003, but were moving along rather slowly. They gained momentum when the Pope visited Malta last April, when the victims met Pope Benedict XVI. "We are not aware whether the decision must come from the Archdiocese, which has told us that the Vatican has the final word, or the Vatican, which has done its part and passed all its findings to the Archdiocese," Mr Grech said. He explained that the matter has become like a 'ping-pong' game between the Archdiocese and the Vatican, which is why they felt they had to write to the Pope, as they have not seen justice done "after seven years". "A number of cases of defilement and abuse have been concluded much quicker than ours", Mr Grech said, referring to two recent cases which saw a man jailed and another denied bail for abuse of minors. He points out that in their case the priests are going about their daily lives, still wearing their clerical collars.
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