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	Abuse Victims Call off Protest By Chiara Bonello Malta Independent September 24, 2011 http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=132534 A protest by the victims of sexual abuse by priests due to be held this morning was called off yesterday, on the advice of the victims’ lawyer, Patrick Valentino, victims’ spokesman Lawrence Grech told The Malta Independent. The protest was to be held after the Curia announced on Thursday that there would be no financial compensation for what the victims had suffered. The news of the protest came after a Church statement that the Church had been advised legally that as an institution it does not have any legal responsibility for the cases (of abuse) perpetrated by “some individuals”. The Church also said it would be offering psychiatric, psychological and other help by social professionals. Mr Grech said that initially all the victims intended to participate in the protest, and invite the public to support them. The email said that the victims were extremely disappointed at the turn that things had taken, and were therefore inviting people to join them in a protest this morning. However on Dr Valentino’s advice they had decided to cancel the protest at this ‘critical’ time, as it is not the right time for something of the sort, Mr Grech explained. The protest would have coincided with a news conference to be held this morning, during which the victims’ lawyers will speak to the media about the meetings they have held with the Church representatives and the final decision. Lou Bondi, who has been the victims’ spokesman, promptly sent an email to the same recipients disassociating himself from the victims’ email announcing the protest, which he said he knew nothing about. The news conference comes after a number of meetings held between Dr Valentino and the Curia’s lawyers, during which both sides had their say, but had so far failed to reach a satisfactory conclusion. The most recent meeting held earlier on this month was described as ‘disappointing’, but Mr Grech had not ruled out the possibility that things may change. Archbishop Paul Cremona, speaking after the meeting, told the media that the meeting had given both sides the opportunity to clarify their positions. He also said that the next meeting, to be held a week later, would be the final one. The protest will not be held, but the news conference during which Dr Valentino will speak to the press about the state of things and what happens next will go ahead as planned.
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