Church Sets up Child Abuse Therapy Board

Malta Independent
October 16, 2012

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=152084

The Church authorities in Malta have set up a therapeutic evaluation board for victims of sexual abuse who are minors, without prejudice to the Church's position in civil processes which may arise and without the Church renouncing its rights of defence.

The board is made up of professional people – psychologist Anthony Gatt, psychiatrist Anthony Dimech and social worker Julian Xuereb. They have been appointed for three years and have to present an annual report about its workings to the Maltese Episcopal Conference.

The board is to evaluate and determine the therapeutic assistance which may be needed by a victim of sexual abuse committed by a pastoral operator, refer the victim to a professional person who may help, or approve the choice of professional person a victim may select and, together with the professional person chosen and the victim, follow the progress and need of the therapy being given. The cost of therapy will be borne by the ecclesiastical authority involved.

The board's competence applies for cases decided definitively by an ecclesiastical tribunal, for cases definitively decided by a civil court, or cases concluded by the response team of the Maltese ecclesiastical province.