Church Sex Abuse Victims Seek to Remove Judge Who Is Radju Marija President from Hearing Case

Independent
September 15, 2015

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2015-09-15/local-news/Church-sex-abuse-victims-seek-to-remove-judge-who-serves-as-Radju-Marija-president-from-hearing-thei-6736142087

Victims of clerical sex abuse have opened a constitutional challenge requesting that their case for compensation from the church not be heard by Mr Justice Joseph R. Micallef, who is also the president of the Catholic-run Radju Marija.

The eleven victims had initially filed an application requesting that Mr Justice J.R Micallef abstain from hearing the case, but the judge turned down this request, saying that there was not a valid enough reason at law why he should stop hearing the case.

Mr Justice Joseph R. Micallef

Lawyer Franco Vassallo, one of the lawyers representing the victims, argued in court that Mr Justice Micallef is too close to the institution involved in the abuse.

One of the victims, Lawrence Grech, explained how the victims were brought up by an institution run by the church.

"They were our parents," Mr Grech said.

Lawrence Grech

Mr Justice Mark Chetcuti questioned the relevance of Mr Grech's testimony at this point, with Dr Vassallo replying that some of the victims are so psychologically damaged that they cannot be asked to testify, therefore Mr Grech's testimony is relevant.

Allowed to continue, Mr Grech said the victims had approached the church about the abuse, and Archbishop Charles Scicluna - who was then the Vatican's lead sex abuse prosecutor - apologised and advised the victims to seek compensation from the church.

A meeting was later held with then Archbishop Paul Cremona and the Archbishop's pro-vicar Anton Gouder, with more apologies forthcoming.

Charles Scicluna had taken over the investigation and within two weeks sent a report to the Vatican.

He again offered the victims "help," but Mr Grech said they have not heard from him since he became archbishop.

A meeting with much "pomp" was even held with the Pope Benedict, but again no action was taken, he said.

Mr Grech said he even went to Radju Marija, asking for assistance. He said the C

uria offered the help of a psychiatrist, psychologist and social worker.

"The psychiatrist spoke to me for an hour. That was the help I received."

Another victim, Philip Cauchi, questioned how Mr Justice Micallef was appointed to hear their case.

"How can he help me if he is involved with the church? Who decided for our case to be heard by the President of Radju Maria," Mr Cauchi questioned.

He explained how he once heard Fr Gouder speaking on Radju Marija about the assistance victims of clerical child abuse are receiving.

He phoned in live and identified himself as one such victim.

"I asked him how he was helping us because nobody from the church had contacted us. Fr Gouder said the church had made offer. I went to the Curia the day after and met him."

Mr Cauchi testified that he too was offered the assistance of a psychiatrist, psychologist and social worker.

He was prescribed medication and broke down numerous times during meetings with them.

Mr Cauchi showed the prescription to his doctor, who advised him to stop taking the pills.

He told the court that all he wants is to be able to forget the whole ordeal.

Fr Charles Fenech

Radju Marija founder Fr Charles Fenech, who is accused of sexually abusing a woman in separate proceedings, was today fined ˆ150 for contempt of court for failing to appear as a witness in order to testify about Mr Justice Micallef's role at the radio station. He will be made to appear during the next sitting under police escort.