Updated | Talks to continue with Archbishop on compensation for sex abuse victims

The meeting started at 11:30 am. Lawyer Patrick Valentino declined to state what his expectations of the meeting are both before and after the meeting, Rachel Zammit Cutajar, who was outside the Curia, reports.

"There was no comment from the lawyer of the victims of the St Joseph Home abuse, and talks are now postponed to an unspecified date," she said.

One of the striking aspects of this issue is the fact that the Church has no policy on financial compensation to victims of sexual abuse by priests. The Church has its own ‘response team’ to investigate claims of sexual abuse, but these are not forwarded to the police for investigation unless the victims choose to do so.

This is the first time the Church faces a demand for compensation.

Dr Valentino has denied suggestions that the victims were looking for €9-€11 million. “I totally exclude these amounts."

The Vatican’s promoter of justice and priest sex abuse czar Mgr Charles Scicluna, a Maltese national, has also called for the Church to be proactive and offer psychological and financial compensation beyond demands of the law.

The alleged abuse took place between the early 1980s and 1990s when the victims were aged between 13 and 16.

The victims have also asked Archbishop Paul Cremona to take steps against Fr. Conrad Sciberras, the fourth priest accused of sexually abusing them.

Sciberras has filed a judicial protest against Lawrence Grech, complaining about the allegations. The protest is not a libel suit. Sciberras, today a diocesan priest, said he was never subjected to any criminal proceedings and none were pending.

Scibberras said one of the victim’s, Lawrence Grech, allegations prejudiced his case.

A court sentence led to the defrocking of priests Charles Pulis and Fr Godwin Scerri, who were sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment between them. Both have since appealed.

TheVatican is still reviewing the case against Fr Sciberras who is also implicated in the St Joseph Home abuse scandal, but the allegations are reportedly time-barred and could not face prosecution.