Updated | Lou Bondì asked to testify in priests’ sex abuse appeal

I am the victim from Canada whom Godwin Scerri perpetrated years of sexual abuse. Naturally, I have been watching the events in Malta unfold from the first stages with interest. I write this with a profound sense of guilt. A guilt that stems from my inability to prevent what has happened to the victims there when I had an opportunity to do so. My mother passed away when I was eight. My father and I never saw eye to eye, as it were, and so when Godwin Scerri came to my school in 1981 and gave me special attention it felt good. This attention developed into what I perceived was friendship that included racquetball, camping trips with youth groups, laundering my clothes, and eventually trips to far away places like New York City and Vancouver. The abuse started off infrequent: forced kissing and touching but quickly developed into far greater crimes. You might ask why one would allow such things to occur to them. It is impossible to adequately explain the extreme dependence a adolescent develops toward a father figure who claims repeatedly to love you. A void is filled even if it does cost you. The manipulation is akin to brainwashing - something I can’t fully fathom to this day. His desires seemed to demand more and more though. Until he insisted upon scheduling what he called “relaxation” each Tuesday and Thursday without fail. I would try to avoid him by not being where I was supposed to be for the rendezvous (usually the rectory) or simply refusing his advances. When this happened he always made sure there was a cost to me. Whether it was negative comments to my father (of my wayward ways and how he, as a priest, will not give up on me), or simply more forward manipulation on his part. The extent of this last point cannot be explained in these few lines. Regardless, the abuse continued. He even documented it in his daily journal. How do I know? He showed me for some inexplicable reason (which is why I made photocopies of his cryptic notes and symbols). I well remember, at age 14, in 1985 when Godwin returned home to Malta on Sabbatical. What relief I felt. Four months of a Godwin-free life where I could return to just being a teenager. Upon his return I ignored his phone calls and ensured I was unavailable to be an alter server; I even had the guts to tell him it would never occur again and to leave me alone. But he managed to win my Dad over with frequent visits and my Dad made me feel tremendously guilty for my rudeness. Somehow, things picked up where they left off. Another one of my repeated efforts to pull away from him was met by his visiting sister lambasting me for my supposed bad manners and lack of appreciation of her supposed well-intentioned brother. The abuse became more intense -even forceful at times. Oddly, I found solace in the chapel at the rectory - a place most unfamiliar to me today. When I encountered someone who finally, after many years, noticed what was taking place, I was comforted in their conviction to help end it. Out of some naive loyalty, I refused to go to the police. Instead I went to the Diocese. They took my information and seemly believed me. They withdrew Godwin and placed him at some undisclosed location for a number of months where I’m told he vehemently denied any wrongdoing. From there, he was re-stationed by the MSSP to a church in Dearborn, Michigan (part of MSSP) - a place I had been many times with Godwin. In frustration, and with the great prodding, I finally went to the police. Charges were laid. And Godwin immediately fled to Malta. I subsequently learned that he was placed in an orphanage. Further frustrated, I wrote an article to the media in Malta in an effort to expose him. I don’t know what happened from there. To the subsequent victims, I am very sorry. Had I handled this properly, you might have escaped the orphanage unaffected. To the superiors of the MSSP. You are culpable. I personally spoke with the former head superior who, equipped with my evidence, gave me the clear impression that he believed me. Your actions, (or lack there-of) led to the ensuing events. To Godwin, you own this shame: you know you are guilty. I know you are guilty and it appears that most everyone else does too. The good you have done in your life has been overshadowed by these stains. An apology would go a long way toward the much-needed healing for those you’ve affected. As for me, I went through years of soul searching, therapy and education to finally defeat my depressed state - a catharsis I feel ever-grateful for. My wife is the single greatest influence that undoubtedly prevented my self-destruction and spurred the meaningful and rewarding life I now enjoy. Why do I write these lines? Because I didn’t when I should have. Because Godwin continues to be unaccountable. Mostly, because I support those victims and hope that some kind of appropriate resolution is found. Sincerely, The second known victim of Godwin Scerri

Can someone confirm whether these two priests are at Corradino Prison or at Mount Carmel Hospital?

It's obvious that Mr Bondi is only interested in one thing i.e. himself. In order to land a media scoop, he portrayed himself as the mentor to the victims of this ordeal and now he is actually prepared to divulge his 'side' of the story to discredit the same persons he set out to 'help' in the fist place. This gentleman's ego is so gross that he is not just sticking to his blogs but he is now actually taking the side of the tormentors to systematically discredit the same victims he vouched to help. Honestly, I really do not know what is more despisable in this ordeal. The convicted pedophiles, the role of the curia, the alledged opportunism of the victims or the egocentric role of a narcissistic media guru.

The victims’ lawyer Partick Valentino can also call Archbishop Cremona to testify on what grounds Godwin Scerri and Charles Pulis were defrocked by the Vatican after the court sentence. Surely if Lou Bondi’s new evidence is allowed so should the archbishop’s.

Ta' min ha jkun il-pappagall din id-darba Lou?