The Church authorities in Malta have set up a Therapeutic Evaluation Board, consisting of professionals, for victims who were sexually abused when they were minors. This decision has been taken by the Maltese Episcopal Conference (Archbishop Paul Cremona O.P. and Bishop Mario Grech) in agreement with the Conference of Religious Major Superiors. This service is being offered by the Church as part of its pastoral and spiritual mission without any prejudice to its position in civil cases and without renouncing to its right of defense.
The Board, which is composed of psychologist Anthony Gatt, psychiatrist Anthony Dimech and social worker Julian Xuereb, has been appointed for a period of three years, with the possibility of being extended for a further period. The Board will present an annual report of its operations to the Maltese Episcopal Conference.
The role of the Board is to evaluate and determine the type of therapeutic help required by the victims who were sexually abused by pastoral functionaries; they will also refer victim/s to professionals who can offer them the assistance needed, or approves that the victim approaches the professional he/she proposes; in agreement with the professional chosen and the victim, the Board will follow the therapeutic process. Professional fees during the therapeutic process will be settled by the ecclesial authority concerned.
The Board’s competence concerns those cases which had a definitive decision by an Ecclesiastical Tribunal, a Civil Court or cases concluded by the Response Team of the Maltese Ecclesiastical Province (and which are not awaiting proceedings by an Ecclesiatical Tribunal or have not commenced proceedings in the Civil Courts).