BishopAccountability.org
	Compensation for Clerical Sex Abuse Victims Discussed di-ve September 7, 2011 http://www.di-ve.com/Default.aspx?ID=72&Action=1&NewsId=85996&newscategory=31&cache=false Compensation for the victims of sexual abuse at the St Joseph Home in Santa Venera has been discussed today, although both sides are tight-lipped about the outcome of the meeting. Two priests – Godwin Scerri and Charles Pulis – were jailed for 5 and 6 years respectively after they were found guilty of multiple counts of sexual abuse of boys in their care. Fr Scerri was acquitted of a rape charge on an apparent technicality – the incident occurred in a different place than the one mentioned in the charge sheet. A third priest, Joseph Bonett, was also accused of sexual abuse, but died earlier this year before sentencing. The victims have been seeking compensation, with their lawyer Patrick Valentino previously announcing that they were seeking a holistic package which included the treatment necessary to help them recover from the traumatic experience. The Vatican’s chief prosecutor in clerical sex abuse cases, Maltese Mgr Charles Scicluna, had said that the victims deserved such compensation. A first meeting was held last month, and in today’s meeting – which lasted around 90 minutes – the 2 sides explained their respective positions. In a brief statement to the press after the meeting took place, Mgr Cremona, who was being assisted by lawyer Dominic Cassar, explained that a final meeting is to be held shortly. He added that it was not the time to reveal any further details at this stage. Dr Valentino opted not to make any comments.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.