Gozo Diocese Announces Dismissal of Priest by the Vatican

Gozo News
September 3, 2015

http://gozonews.com/58215/gozo-diocese-announces-dismissal-of-priest-by-the-vatican/


Archbishop Charles Scicluna and Gozo Bishop Mario Grech in joint statement have said they wish to reassure the public that one of the main objectives of their diocese is to safeguard minors and that the laws, both civil and ecclesiastical, are always observed and followed in this respect, just as in every other case..

“In the autumn of 2014 the Bishops, together with Religious Superiors in Malta and Gozo had adopted and published a policy on how to investigate cases of alleged abuse of minors by clergy, and religious people.”

The Bishops said that at the beginning of this year, the same ecclesiastical authorities appointed a group of experts to form the Commission for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults, also called the Safeguarding Commission, headed by Andrew Azzopardi, and has been in operation since February.

“According to this policy and Canon Law, when there is an allegation of abuse by a priest, the Bishop will immediately sets limits or suspends the pastoral ministry of the priest, in question so as to avoid him having any further contact with minors, and refer the case to the Safeguarding Commission for the necessary investigations.”

The Bishops said that “the civil law is also applicable and observed in these cases. Following the process, if it is proved that the accusation is true, the priest is given the applicable penalty. This penalty could be a permanent restriction of his priestly ministry, or a dismissal from the clerical state.

“The Bishops are in agreement that with immediate effect every definitive decision which results in restricted of permanent priestly ministry or removal from the clerical state will be published on the dioceses’ websites www.maltadiocese.org and www.gozodiocese.org.”

The Bishops said that “this line of action is to be taken in conjunction with the present practice wherein the parish priest of the concerned priest is also informed of this decision. The priests are also removed from the official list of members of the clergy.”

Therefore this afternoon, in a one line statement issued by the Gozo Diocese on its website, it has been announced that following a decision of the Holy See, Dominic Camilleri has been dismissed from the clergy.