Bondi' Ends His Advisory Role with Abuse Victims, Disagrees with Recent Statement, Times of Malta, September 26, 2011

Bondi' Ends His Advisory Role with Abuse Victims, Disagrees with Recent Statement

Times of Malta
September 26, 2011

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110926/local/bondi-ends-his-advisory-role-with-abuse-victims-disagrees-with-recent-statements-against-the-church.386447

Lou Bondi has expressed disagreement with comments made against the Church and the Archbishop in recent days.

Broadscaster Lou Bondi has stepped down from his role as adviser to the victims of clerical abuse.

He had been helping the victims of sexual abuse at St Joseph Home for eight years.

Mr Bondi announced the decision in his blog, adding that he has sent an email to their lawyer Dr Patrick Valentino and two of the victims, Lawrence Grech and Joseph Magro.

In his email, Mr Bondi said he had reflected on whether he should continue to be involved, now that the case had been decided in court. He decided to step down because his purpose of seeing justice be done had been achieved.

He said the legal efforts for the victims to be given financial compensation were worthy and he hoped that they would succeed. However, this was not part of what he had worked for with the victims and therefore, he did not see himself as having a role in it.

Mr Bondi said he absolutely disagreed with actions and declarations made against the Church and Archbishop Paul Cremona in recent days. He had made his position clear early on, but his advice was ignored.

He augured that the victims would close this chapter of their lives successfully.