As I drove to catch the ferry to Gozo this evening I had to stop to take a picture of this dilapidated house in Cirkewwa. As the last rays of sun kissed it's decaying red walls, it spoke to me. It looked like the perfect symbol of the day's end. The day started with the court sending Fr Charles Pulis and Fr Godwin Scerri to jail for six and five years respectively for sexually abusing boys. And it was ending with this house waiting impatiently to be engulfed by the evening's darkness, and therein to hide its shame. For it was in this house that these two priests committed some of their nauseating crimes on so many boys.
It has been a long haul since this story started in my kitchen eight years ago when Lawrence Grech came to tell me his shocking tale of systematic sexual abuse. As a journalist I had to be sceptical about what I heard. But when his story was corroborated by so many others my scepticism started ebbing away. And Bondiplus started the ball rolling, a ball which stopped rolling this morning.
Over the last eight years, I have seen these men cry and laugh, hope and despair, wanting to remember and wanting to forget. They were my heroes eight years ago and they remain so today. Because I saw the truth in their eyes from the very beginning. May the rest of their lives bring them at least some of the happiness that was so cruelly denied to them.
There are two men I wish to thank: Fr Joe Borg for sharing his wisdom when mine failed me and Archbishop Pawl Cremona for the bountiful generosity he showed towards the victims and their families.
Finally, I understand that Dr Giannella Caruana Curran had to do her duty towards her clients, these two paedophile priests. But I was nauseated to see her hugging and kissing them before and after the sentence.
12 comments:
The condemnation of such horrible acts on children is definately agreed upon. Let's make it clear.
I just hope that through your influence on media and people, you can also expand on the beautiful truth around the MSSP. I myself had been an SPMC old boy like many others, some of whom are your close colleagues such as Joe Dimech, John Bundy, Mark Doneo and Pablo Micallef.
Keep in mind that the effects of this story perpetrated by 3 men, is a very bad stigma both on the school and the religious Society itself. I hope you will compensate a bit by portraying the hard work and great achievements done by a bigger number of priests!
Thank you
Pawlu
i feel a sense of relief to hear that finally some justice has been done... Eventhough 5/6 years don't measure to the lifetime of suffering of these men.
Well done & thank u lou for insisting that the truth gets out there!!!
Sarah
I perfectly share Pawlu's sentiments. I am an SPMC old-boy myself and have nothing but praise for the college, the society and its members. Whilst of course condemning these disgusting acts, let us not use them to tarnish all the good the society is doing. I occasionally also volunteer at St. Joseph's Home, which is being run on highly professional standards and which is the home and refuge of a good number of boys, and which is still fighting to dispel the stigma which has been thrown upon it by this case. Lou, I follow your blogs and shows regularly, why not also do a programme to highlight the good work done by such societies? There's an Independent Living Project being implement at St. Joseph's Home to help boys carry on living independent live with the support of the home even after they enter adulthood, a project which definitely would do with more help, donations, and awareness.
Pawlu, you have your facts wrong. During Bondiplus which broke the story 8 years ago, I repeatedly pointed out that the church should not be condemned along with these priests. I have taken the same line over the years on every occasion I had. If you watch the programme Follow Up on PBS this evening you can hear me saying the same thing.
qed nikteb bil-Malti sabiex il-mistoqsija li ghandi tinftiehem sew...Bhalma l-ex sacerdoti appellaw, kif ghandhom dritt, L-avukat Generali, ma jistax jappella sabiex is-sentenzi jizdiedu, u fuq l-akkuza li ma nstabx hati wiehed minnhom fuq teknikalita??
Hi Lou,
Thanks for taking time to reply. I appreciate.
My facts are not (totally) wrong. Generally speaking, when people talk about Lou Bondi's quest in favour of these men, the argument immediately switches to condemnation of all species of religious beings!
Only the minority can handle the balance between the good and the bad in a conscious way. I believe that, in such delicate arguments, it is our responsibility to ALWAYS balance our media exposures (any medium) with the pro and the anti arguments.
Well done also to Mark Sammut for his input as well!
Thanks again
Pawlu
It seems to me that there continues to be a systematic attempt by men in societies all over the world to protect men of stature be they political or clerical who engage in sexual abuse of male or females be they minors or adults.
It is the overriding responsibility of these institutions to condemn this conduct and protect victims or suffer cynicism and ridicule.
Just saw your interview on PBS. I would be a coward if i don't come here to tell you a big well done to the way you spoke in that interview. So, yes well done and thank you for the opportunity to discuss (once again). Let's keep such arguments against crimes but in favour of those who are not involved, always clear and assertive.
IVA F` DAN IL-POST L-ISBAL LI GHALIJA HU HAZIN HAFNA IMMA WIEHED IRRID JGHID LI ANKE SAR HAFNA GIED U LI JEKK GHAL DAWN SHABI SARILHOM DAN L-ABBUZZ HEMM HAFNA TFAL LI ILLUM GHANDHOM IL-FAMILJI TAGHHOM LI GAWDEW UKOLL. LOU NAPPREZZA LI META JASAL ZMIEN TA` DISKUSSJONI WIEHED JIDISKUTI BIL-KALMA U MHUX BL-OMOZZJONJIET.
@ dominic vella, l-gid li setghu ghamlu ma jihhustifikax il-hazin.
There is someone signing "John Schembri" who is quoting from p.47 of the court sentence and thereby trying to argue that Lawrence Grech is the abuser not the victim. Obviously, I will not post such disgusting comments. In any case, we now have a court sentence which shows that the magistrate did not believe this so-called evidence at all. However, if you wish to see how "John Schembri" reasons, take a look at the sentence itself. Click on: http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/courtservices/Judgements/search.aspx?func=15days)
nistqar li mhux l-interess tieghi li nitholl fil-kazz per se , jew nidefendi lil xi hadt li abbuza imma f` dan il-palazz ghixu hafna tfal u gawdew hafna tfal u li tghid lou li din kienet id-dar fejn ghixu minn abbuza ma naqbilx, dan mhux mod fl-opinjoni tieghi kif jaghmel il-poplu konxju minn dan l-abbuz.
le chris il-fatt li dawn in-nies instabu li abbuzat ma jigustifikax il-gid li ghamlu . imma fil-hajja wiehed irrid juza mizin.
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