Curia confirms alleged priest abuse case was investigated

Weekly newspaper Illum reports that the Curia confirmed that the case revolving around allegations that a priest sexually abused a psychologically and mentally vulnerable person were investigated by the Church Response Team.

The Curia also said that the priest in question did not agree with the decision reached by the Response Team, and requested for this decision to be revised.

The confirmations emerged from a number of clarifications made by the Curia to Illum following revelations that a prominent priest in the Maltese Church is facing a number of police reports.

The most serous of these reports deals with accusations by a person who alleges that she was abused by the priest for sexual purposes despite being vulnerable both emotionally and psychologically.

She alleges that the abuse took place over a number of months, and that it involved sexual acts which he either persuaded her to perform on him, or her performed on her.

The person is also alleging that Archbishop Paul Cremona not only knew of the case, but also had personally intervened to persuade her to forgive the priest when she had first tried to take steps against him within Church structures, as well as the Police.

When first contacted and confronted with the allegations weeks ago, the Archbishop's categorically declined to comment about the two police reports, or about the case itself.

However in a statement published in the Illum on Sunday, the Curia said Archbishop Paul Cremona is "bound by secrecy" because the first contact he had with the person who is alleging abuse "took place years before he became Archbishop of Malta."

"This pastoral contact between Fr Pawl Cremona O.P. and this person, sometimes included the Sacrament of Confession. This is why Mons the Archbishop is bound by secrecy," the Curia said.

The Curia went on to say that the case was referred to the Church Response Team "years ago," and that that the case was then investigated.

The Curia did not however divulge details regarding when this report was made, when the investigation took place, what were the investigation's findings, and what steps were taken based on these findings.

What the Curia did say however was that the priest involved did not agree with the findings, and requested a revision.

The Curia also confirmed that in August 2011, the person making the allegations had first brought the case before the Police, and had also made contact with Cremona regarding the case.

However the Curia said that this took place "years before" Cremona became Archbishop, and said that because of this " the Archbishop is bound by secrecy."

"All this too place before Mons Charles Scicluna came to Malta as Auxiliary Bishop," the Curia also specified.

Illum also reports that investigations into the case by Police are underway, as during the past week a number of people involved in the case were interviewed by the police.

Among them, the Illum reports, are the person making he allegations of sexual abuse, and the priest himself.