Priest threatens to sue sex abuse victim for libel
Lawrence Grech, one of the St Joseph’s Home sex abuse victims, claimed yesterday that he was threatened that he would be sued for libel by Fr Conrad Sciberras unless he stopped mentioning the priest and his alleged involvement in the sex abuse cases.
But Mr Grech is unfazed by the threats and has challenged Fr Sciberras to meet him and other sex abuse victims face to face, possibly on television.
Fr Sciberras’ lawyer, Louise Anne Pulis, yesterday confirmed that the Curia’s Response Team investigated the sex abuse allegations in which her client was implicated last year.
“A decree was issued by the Curia’s Administrative Tribunal on 15 July of this year and we are awaiting the Vatican’s confirmation of that decree,” she said. Fr Sciberras, she said, is bound to secrecy at this stage as far as the content or verdict of the decree as concerned.
Dr Pulis added that there are two current court cases against Mr Grech, but stopped short of saying what the cases were about, or whether they were related to the priest sex abuse cases.
But, she threatened, “We will have to issue all the evidence if the allegations against my client don’t stop.”
Reacting, Mr Grech said: “She can say whatever she likes, she’s not going to stop me. She said she has enough evidence to show that Fr Sciberras is a good man. I would honestly like her to file a libel suit, so that I can face the priest in court – that way we would be able to present the evidence.
“We (Mr Grech and other sex abuse victims) are ready to meet him face to face, possibly on television. I will keep mentioning his name until justice is done. He abused young boys, and yet he is still allowed to perform priestly duties.”
When Mr Grech and seven other priest sex abuse victims met Archbishop Paul Cremona two days ago, they demanded that the Church takes action against Fr Sciberras.
Fr Francesco, also known as Godwin Scerri, 75, and (defrocked) Carmelo Pulis, 66, were recently given a five- and six-year jail term respectively after being found guilty of defiling teenage boys at two homes belonging to the Missionary Society of St Paul (MSSP). They both filed appeals two days ago. A fourth accused, Bro. Joseph Bonnet, passed way earlier this year before learning of his verdict.
A few days ago, Mr Grech told our sister daily newspaper that the Curia’s Response Team was investigating another priest over involvement in the St Joseph’s Home sex abuse cases.
“I was recently informed that Mgr Charles Scicluna (the Vatican’s sex crime chief prosecutor) has asked the Curia’s Response Team to investigate Fr Conrad Sciberras’ behaviour when he stayed at St Joseph’s Home about 20 years ago.”
Last October the victims received a letter, signed by Fr Louis Mallia, the regional superior of the Missionary Society of St Paul (MSSP), informing them that the Response Team had found that the allegations against this priest, as well as the others, were “founded”.
Mr Grech recalled that the priest didn’t live at the home permanently, but would go and stay there for the summer.
“He is being accused of fondling four boys, on separate occasions, in the sea in Marfa, which is where he used to take us swimming. His actions were witnessed by two other former residents of the home, who recently recounted what they saw to Mgr Scicluna.”
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