Let me congratulate you on your editorial of 29 November, which referred to the Maltese Church’s attitude to clergy who sexually abuse children, in the light of the damning report on the Archdiocese of Dublin. The key sentence in that report says it all: “The most senior figures in the Irish hierarchy did not report these crimes ... because of an obsessive culture of secrecy and a desire to preserve the power and aura of the Church and to avoid giving scandal to their congregations.”

The behaviour of paedophile priests has come out in the open in Ireland, the USA, Canada, Italy, Austria, and indeed, wherever the Catholic clergy enjoy a dominant position in society. However, very little is publicly known about the subject in Malta, despite the occasional ‘leak’ and despite the need to take remedial action in such circumstances. When wrongdoing goes unchecked and unpunished by society, it is rewarded and repeated. The law, as applied by the police and the courts, punishes to deter similar misbehaviour in future.

No institution should become an end in itself, or be protected at all costs, even when it protects scoundrels. The Dublin report revealed a systematic and calculated abuse of power and trust. It confirmed that the Church and the state had colluded in a conspiracy of silence (at least) against innocent and helpless children. The report shows the obsessive concern with secrecy and avoidance of scandal of the Catholic hierarchy. Is it not time for the Maltese Church to reveal how it deals with abusive priests?

The Maltese bishops know exactly what is going on. Their main concern is to cover up for the clergy and as a result more children are abused. Theirs is a deliberate, calculated and short-sighted policy pursued to defend the institution in the name of spirituality. Let’s remember that the Maltese bishops are extremely powerful and well-educated men who fully understand what they do when they constantly put their wishes above children’s safety.

As the Maltese hierarchy seems content to live in a culture of secrecy, it is up to the government to remind it that the clergy are not above and outside the law. Prime Minister Laurence Gonzi should set up an independent commission to enquire if such behaviour has occurred, or is occurring, also in Malta. One cannot just pretend that Malta is immune to what happens in Catholic dioceses all over the world. Let’s err on the side of caution, not complacency. Ireland and Malta have so many things in common.

Finally, I note that the Maltese hierarchy published information about the forthcoming visit by his Holiness the Pope at exactly the same time that the Dublin report was made public. It would be appropriate if the papal visit could be the occasion for the Maltese Church to commit itself to as much transparency as the Irish Church on matters relating to the behaviour of some priests.

Louise Vella

MOSTA