The Trend
August 2, 2011
http://en.trend.az/regions/world/europe/1913310.html
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A court in Malta on Tuesday handed down jail sentences to two Roman Catholic priests convicted of sexually abusing minors at an orphanage in the late 1980s, dpa reported.
Father Charles Pulis was jailed for six years while Father Godwin Scerri received a five-year sentence.
The two men, both in their 60s, were charged with abusing 11 boys, aged between 13 and 16, who were in their care at St Joseph's Home in Santa Venera.
The priests stood expressionless in the dock as the judgment was read out, local media reported. Both said they would appeal the court decision.
Another priest, Father Joe Bonett, 63, who had also been charged, passed away in January.
"I'm very satisfied. Many victims were scared of speaking out and this will help the truth come out in more cases," one of the abuse victims, Lawrence Grech, said after the sentencing.
"They did a lot of harm, some of the victims ended up taking drugs, some have died. That hurt will never go away," he added.
In April 2010, Grech and seven other victims met privately with Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to Malta. The pontiff expressed "shame and sorrow" and promised effective measures to protect young people in the future.
The eight men have however, accused the church of delaying tactics with its own internal investigations, pending the outcome of the criminal court case.
The case first came to light eight years ago when Grech decided to break his silence. Since then a 11 other men who had resided in the same orphanage, also spoke out, shocking the predominantly Catholic Mediterranean island nation.
Grech said on Tuesday he hoped the church's internal investigation would be concluded soon and that the two priests would be defrocked.
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