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	Second Meeting over Church Compensation for Abuse Victims Times of Malta September 6, 2011 http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110906/local/Second-meeting-over-Church-compensation-for-abuse-victims.383476 The lawyer of 11 men who were abused by members of the clergy 20 years ago will tomorrow be holding a second meeting with Archbishop Paul Cremona to discuss compensation for the victims. The victims’ legal representative, Patrick Valentino, said he hoped tomorrow’s meeting would be the final one with an agreement reached between both parties. “But it does not depend on me only,” he said. Dr Valentino said discussions would revolve on a “compensation package” that included financial compensation and the services of social workers and psychologists. He did not wish to divulge more information at this stage. Dr Valentino met Mgr Cremona last month, at the Curia in Floriana, for an hour-long meeting. Neither of the two parties divulged much about what they spoke about. Mgr Cremona said they had agreed not to speak about the matter in public while the meetings were going on. The first meeting, on August 17, was held after Mgr Cremona met eight of the 11 victims the previous week at his residence in Attard. Dr Valentino had requested an appointment to discuss compensation. In 2003, allegations about abuse at the St Joseph Home, in Sta Venera, came to public attention after the victims broke more than 20 years of silence. Four priests were investigated – Fr Conrad Sciberras, Fr Carmelo Pulis, Fr Francesco Scerri and Bro. Joseph Bonett. Police initiated criminal proceedings against the latter three. Last month Fr Pulis and Fr Scerri were jailed for six and five years respectively, for their involvement in the abuse. They have since appealed. Fr Bonett passed away last January, aged 63. No criminal action was taken against Fr Sciberras because the case against him was time barred. Following the conviction of the two priests, the Vatican’s chief prosecutor in clerical abuse cases, Mgr Charles Scicluna, said the victims deserved compensation. He also urged the Curia to set up a Victim Solidarity Fund that could go beyond the strict demands of damages granted by law, both civil and Canon.
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