No state within state

It is good to know that the Church in Malta has the structure to investigate reports of abuse and misconduct, something Pope Francis has been demanding loudly in recent years.

He has now given all dioceses one year to ensure that they have such systems in place and made accessible to the public. Even better, the Archbishop, Charles J. Scicluna – a respected and proven Vatican authority on the problem of rampant sexual abuse by members of the clergy – has confirmed that the local Safeguarding Commission responsible for protecting children and vulnerable adults will have its operational set-up updated to reflect the requirements of the

new Church law. He explained how the law makes it mandatory for all the clergy, everywhere, to report their suspicions and, I assume, evidence of harmful behaviour amd abuse while it gives protection to the person who comes forward to make a report. There are also commitments to the victims of abuse, among them the need to be heard and helped, although no mention is made of financial compensation.

In his frank discussion with the media regarding the new law, the Archbishop made it clear that no one is above the law, “including those in positions of authority and leadership such as cardinals, bishops and Superiors General”, with the process of investigation – funded separately and autonomously by each Episcopal conference – needing to be dealt with immediately and completed within three months.

This is, finally, action truly being taken under a Pope who means business in the hope of giving his Church the trust and conviction it once enjoyed before the putrid smell of sexual abuse filled its myriad temples,