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	Abuse Priest Defrocked As Church Expresses 'Sorrow' Times of Malta August 4, 2011 http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110804/local/Abuse-priest-defrocked-as-Church-expresses-sorrow-.378639 One of the priests found guilty of child abuse, Charles Pulis, was defrocked by the Vatican at the beginning of July, though his religious community said it was not able to announce the news before yesterday. Meanwhile, the Church in Malta has expressed its sorrow over the sexual abuse perpetrated by some of its members. According to the Vatican, a decision on whether or not to defrock Fr Godwin Scerri, the other priest found guilty of sex abuse, will be taken by October at the very latest. Mr Pulis and Fr Scerri, both members of the Missionary Society of St Paul, were sentenced to six and five years in prison respect-ively on Tuesday for sexually abusing 11 young boys in their care at the St Joseph Home in Sta Venera. They were granted bail as they appealed the judgment. Defrocking is the highest punishment that can be issued by the Vatican, whose decisions are based on the investigations carried out independently of court cases. Despite being defrocked, Mr Pulis will remain a "lay brother" of the society, a decision taken by the Pope. The MSSP superior general, Fr Bernard Mangion, explained yesterday he had not yet received the Pope's order to defrock Mr Pulis, which is why he could not announce it. According to the Vatican, Mr Pulis' superiors were "duly and timely informed about the Holy See's decision". However, Fr Mangion, who is based in Italy but is on holiday in Malta, said the official documents, which are rather lengthy and detailed, were sent to his residence in Italy when he had already left. On being informed that a decision had been taken, about a week ago, Fr Mangion said he got one of his secretaries to personally deliver the documents to him in Malta. He is expected to arrive tomorrow. In view of the fact that news of the defrocking had reached Malta, the MSSP yesterday decided to issue a statement confirming the reports after checking "with certainty" that the Pope had indeed given such an order. "Pope Benedict XVI has decreed the dismissal from the clerical state of the said presbyter, as a penalty, who, however, will remain incorporated in the Missionary Society. This decision cannot be appealed," it said. The MSSP added that from the moment the first allegations surfaced in 2003, Mr Pulis was barred from public priestly ministry as a precautionary measure. When contacted, Fr Mangion confirmed this also applied to Fr Scerri. Until defrocked, they are still allowed private priestly ministry. Asked to react to the judgment, Fr Mangion said he hoped justice had been done with the victims, stressing that the court's decision was being appealed and thus justice had to be allowed to run its course. In a short press statement reacting to Tuesday's judgment, the Church in Malta yesterday reiterated its profound sorrow for the minors under its care who were abused. It asked for forgiveness from the victims and from Maltese society. "The Church also expresses sorrow for the fact that the (ecclesiastical) investigations about these reports took so long to be concluded," the Curia said, adding that Archbishop Paul Cremona planned to meet the victims again shortly to personally ask for forgiveness. The cases took more than eight years to be concluded and the local Church had been accused of dragging its feet incessantly on the issue. The Curia appealed for anyone with information about similar abuses to file reports immediately, saying its structures had been strengthened to eliminate abuse but also, in cases where abuse happened, to take steps in the shortest time possible.
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