Union newspaper retracts ‘political allegations’ over Gozo minister’s brother’s beatification

The General Workers Union newspaper l-orizzont has published a retraction of allegations it made on the cause for beatification of the Gozo minister's brother Michael Attard.

The newspaper was sued for libel in August 2011 by the Bishop of Gozo Mario Grech, over allegations that the Curia was actively promoting the cause for the beatification of minister Giovanna Debono's brother, ostensibly in a bid to bolster her electoral campaign.

The newspaper has since retracted its allegations, acknowledging Grech's actions were "inspired by a pastoral spirit" and not by other political considerations.

The newspaper also said it recognised that Attard's beatification was a Vatican matter that fell out of the discretion of the Gozitan curia and over which Bishop Grech has no control. "We regret that our report created doubts over the integrity and impartiality of Bishop Mario Grech," the newspaper said.

Minister Debono has been tight-lipped over news that her brother had been postulated for beatification, the first in a series of Vatican investigations to create a Catholic saint.

Her brother Michael Attard, a diocesan priest, died in 2004 but was later reported to have interceded in some acts of grace. On 30 July, 2010, Bishop Grech informed the Congregation for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican asking for the nulla osta - an approval - for the start of the priest's beatification.

By November 2010, the Gozitan curia announced that preparations for Attard's beatification had commenced, and in March 2011 the Gozitan church started compiling information on the virtues and life of Fr Attard.

In one of his homilies following the presentation of Attard's beatification cause, Grech told churchgoers: "This cause comes with the hope that Fr Michael will be honoured on our altars - not for himself, but as an inspiration for us all but also for the multiplication of saints."