Gozo Curia investigation confirms abuse at Church home for children
by Juan Ameen
Gozo Bishop Mario Grech yesterday asked for forgiveness after a committee investigating claims of physical and psychological abuse at Lourdes Home, run by the Dominican sisters, found that “inadmissible behaviour involving minors” had taken place.
In a short statement titled “I ask for forgiveness”, Mgr Grech explained that the commission that was set up by the Curia had reached “the conclusion that in some particular cases, there had been inadmissible behaviour involving minors that should have never taken place.”
Furthermore, he added, the commission also presented “some recommendations that will ensure that such abuses would never happen again”.
The Gozo Curia statement did not say what the recommendations were.
Neither does the statement specify what was described as “inadmissible behaviour” or if any legal action will be taken based on the report. In April 2006, The Malta Independent on Sunday together with Bondiplus revealed allegations of abuse in Lourdes Home that mainly concerned Sr Josephine Anne Sultana and Sr Dorothy Mizzi, relating to the period between 12 December 1975 and 30 October 1984 when Sr Carmelita Borg was Mother Superior.
That same month, the Gozo Curia issued a press release stating that a commission had been set up to investigate these claims. The commission was made up of Mr Justice Victor Caruana Colombo, lawyer Dr Ruth Farrugia, psychologist Dr Angela Abela and Mgr Fortunato Mizzi.
Even though the commission had been instructed to compile their report within two months, almost two years went by before the report was submitted to the Gozo Curia.
In April 2006, TMIS had published the summary of a report commissioned by (former) Bishop Nikol Cauchi after previous allegations had already led to an investigation.
The report stated that correspondence alleging and denying claims of cruelty at the home were examined, people who testified in favour or against such claims were heard, as also were some Dominican sisters, including two mother superiors; the bishop had also been consulted.
It went on to say that the panel concluded that some punishments meted out at the home, including corporal punishment, might seem to be too drastic today but at the time when they happened this was common not just in children’s homes but also in family homes both in Malta and abroad.
However, the commission’s report proved otherwise.
In fact, Mgr Grech said that he immediately instructed the Superior General of the Dominican Sisters to “carry out the commission’s recommendations, thus excluding the recurrence of such abuses”.
He praised the work of the Sisters “done with great love and dedication – during its long history of hundreds of children and their families.
”However, the bishop asked for forgiveness from all those “who have suffered because of this behaviour... I have to show my sorrow for all that was of detriment to these children.”
Mgr Grech said that he appointed a team of experts to help these people heal. “The Church wants to accompany these persons who were hurt by this behaviour. I have already made contacts with the persons involved and will be closely following this process.”
by Juan Ameen
Gozo Bishop Mario Grech yesterday asked for forgiveness after a committee investigating claims of physical and psychological abuse at Lourdes Home, run by the Dominican sisters, found that “inadmissible behaviour involving minors” had taken place.
In a short statement titled “I ask for forgiveness”, Mgr Grech explained that the commission that was set up by the Curia had reached “the conclusion that in some particular cases, there had been inadmissible behaviour involving minors that should have never taken place.”
Furthermore, he added, the commission also presented “some recommendations that will ensure that such abuses would never happen again”.
The Gozo Curia statement did not say what the recommendations were.
Neither does the statement specify what was described as “inadmissible behaviour” or if any legal action will be taken based on the report. In April 2006, The Malta Independent on Sunday together with Bondiplus revealed allegations of abuse in Lourdes Home that mainly concerned Sr Josephine Anne Sultana and Sr Dorothy Mizzi, relating to the period between 12 December 1975 and 30 October 1984 when Sr Carmelita Borg was Mother Superior.
That same month, the Gozo Curia issued a press release stating that a commission had been set up to investigate these claims. The commission was made up of Mr Justice Victor Caruana Colombo, lawyer Dr Ruth Farrugia, psychologist Dr Angela Abela and Mgr Fortunato Mizzi.
Even though the commission had been instructed to compile their report within two months, almost two years went by before the report was submitted to the Gozo Curia.
In April 2006, TMIS had published the summary of a report commissioned by (former) Bishop Nikol Cauchi after previous allegations had already led to an investigation.
The report stated that correspondence alleging and denying claims of cruelty at the home were examined, people who testified in favour or against such claims were heard, as also were some Dominican sisters, including two mother superiors; the bishop had also been consulted.
It went on to say that the panel concluded that some punishments meted out at the home, including corporal punishment, might seem to be too drastic today but at the time when they happened this was common not just in children’s homes but also in family homes both in Malta and abroad.
However, the commission’s report proved otherwise.
In fact, Mgr Grech said that he immediately instructed the Superior General of the Dominican Sisters to “carry out the commission’s recommendations, thus excluding the recurrence of such abuses”.
He praised the work of the Sisters “done with great love and dedication – during its long history of hundreds of children and their families.
”However, the bishop asked for forgiveness from all those “who have suffered because of this behaviour... I have to show my sorrow for all that was of detriment to these children.”
Mgr Grech said that he appointed a team of experts to help these people heal. “The Church wants to accompany these persons who were hurt by this behaviour. I have already made contacts with the persons involved and will be closely following this process.”
Tja. Malta is toch verder dan Nederland. Daar hebben ze blijkbaar wél oude jongens-krentenbrood, maar geen Maria ter Steegs
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