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	Priest Files Judicial Protest over Abuse Allegations The Di-Ve August 16, 2011 http://www.di-ve.com/Default.aspx?ID=72&Action=1&NewsId=85453&newscategory=34 A priest has filed a judicial protest against a victim of sexual abuse at St Joseph's Home in Santa Venera over allegations that he had also been involved. Two Missionary Society of St Paul priests – Carmelo Pulis and Godwin Scerri – were jailed for 6 and 5 years after they were convicted of multiple counts of sexual abuse of boys in their care. Both are currently out on appeal. A third – Joseph Bonnet – was also charged, but succumbed to cancer earlier this year. A fourth priest – Conrad Sciberras – was also identified in the deposition made by the police, but did not subsequently face criminal charges. Nevertheless, Lawrence Grech – the first victim to forego his anonymity to speak on the group's behalf – implicated him, prompting the priest to file a judicial protest. In his judicial protest, Fr Sciberras lamented about how Mr Grech was describing allegations against him as facts, even though he was never charged with anything. He acknowledged that he had appeared before the Church's Response Team, and that a decree was issued after he was subjected to a church administrative process similar to a trial. The decree is still awaiting confirmation by the Vatican – and has not been made public as a result – and Fr Sciberras said that the allegations against him were causing undue pressure and prejudicing the case before this occurred. Fr Sciberras said that he had not taken any action when Mr Grech lied that he had escaped from Malta, or when he changed his testimony, but insisted that the present allegations left him with no option but to do so. Contact: editorial@di-ve.com
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