Malta should implement a national safeguarding policy structure according to Mark Pellicano – head of Safeguarding for the Archdiocese of Malta – which would include mandatory Safeguarding Commissions for various entities.
Speaking at the first Church-led Safeguarding Conference today at ĊAK, Birkirkara, Mr Pellicano also expressed concern over the absence of legal mechanisms, which restricts the sharing of vital information between the Church and other entities. An individual who has been restricted within Church environments by the Safeguarding Commission, he said, may still currently engage with other entities.
Digital safety, mental health and the promotion of a survivor-centred culture were among the themes discussed during the conference organised by the Malta Safeguarding Commission and hosted by the Archdiocese of Malta.
The conference, entitled ‘A Shared Mission’, featured a keynote address by Bishop Luis Manuel Alí Herrera, Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (Vatican), who spoke about global insights into safeguarding practices within the Church and wider society.
“True protection begins when we are truly willing to listen to survivors, families, and those in positions of responsibility. Healing begins with that openness,” said Bishop Alí Herrera.
He added that the Vatican’s guidelines, although universal, “must respect and adapt to local cultures and real human experience. Our guidelines must broaden their focus to protect not only minors but also the elderly and all people in vulnerable situations. They must address all forms of abuse, including sexual, spiritual, emotional, and financial abuse, as well as abuse of power… Protection is the language of love, and love is the truest form of justice.”
The conference also included an intervention by Archbishop Charles Scicluna, a leading voice in Church safeguarding who serves as adjunct secretary to the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. He insisted that safeguarding minors and vulnerable adults is indeed a shared mission. Just as it takes a village to raise a child, “it also takes a village to protect a child”.
Mgr Scicluna emphasized the Church should engage directly with this issue “to confront ourselves with the very sad reality that abuse happens also within our ranks and in our environments. This needs a lot of humility but also the courage to confront ourselves with the truth”. He added that abuse within the Church has a spiritual element which other abuse situations do not share. “It not only harms the physique, the psyche of a person, but it is also an assault on their faith journey.”
Mgr Giovanni Curmi, Vicar General for Gozo, also addressed safeguarding in Gozo and pointed out that safeguarding is not optional, it flows from our journey of faith and our commitment to love.
Fr Eric Cachia SDB, President of the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious (KSMR) which represents all religious orders in Malta and Gozo, spoke on safeguarding in religious community contexts. He reflected that for too long, the Church covered its wounds rather than attending to them, confusing protection of the Church with protection of its image. “Silence postpones healing but never brings it. To speak the truth is never easy even within the Church… we have to welcome critique as an act of love… Real peace cannot be built on avoidance.”
Fr Cachia also noted that nowadays the church through its safeguarding commission is being an inspiration to other entities who wish alto adopt similar safeguarding structures
The conference reviewed progress in safeguarding, addressed emerging issues, and reaffirmed the Church’s commitment as a national safeguarding partner.
For any safeguarding concerns, please contact the Safeguarding Commission on 22470950 or [email protected].
