Abuse cases dawdling in Malta courts

I cannot believe how people are still so gullible and deferential to the representatives of an institution that have so far not only kept abuse by Catholic priests quiet, but have also transferred the perpetrators to other parishes and other countries.

Mgr Charles Scicluna, the Vatican's top official responsible for dealing with sexual and physical abuse perpetrated by members of the clergy, has been so generous in climbing down from his ivory tower and accepting to meet in June with the ten victims of alleged sexual and physical child abuse at St Joseph Home, Sta Venera, Malta.

"We are very happy that our cries are now being heard by the church authorities, locally and at the Vatican. We are also very grateful that this good news is coming on the eve of Pope Benedict's XVI visit to Malta. All of us welcome the Pope to Malta with open arms and augur that his visit will leave the desired results," Joseph Magro, one of the victims of abuse, was reported as saying.

Come on Mgr Scicluna, you should have met with these people a long time ago and not now because the Pope is coming to visit. These victims have been ignored until now and are only getting attention because of all the media interest in the Pope.

The victims had approached the local church's Response Team in 2003 but, “unfortunately, we did not get justice then. We sincerely hope that, through this meeting with Mgr Scicluna, we get it now”, said Lawrence Grech, the spokesman for the victims.

Their case has been dawdling in the Maltese courts for the past seven years but they are still waiting for justice to be done.

They are also still waiting for a response from the Vatican to their request for a short private meeting with Pope Benedict XVI this weekend.