BishopAccountability.org
Update 1: Vatican Acquits Fr Sciberras, but Restricts His Ministry

The Di-Ve
October 5, 2011

http://www.di-ve.com/Default.aspx?ID=72&Action=1&NewsId=86636

The Vatican has ruled that allegations that Fr Conrad Sciberras sexually abused children at St Joseph's Home in Santa Venera could not be proven, but "serious suspicions" arising from the evidence at hand led it to restrict him from working with children.

Victims of abuse at the home for boys had made claims against Fr Sciberras and other members of the MSSP – Charles Pulis, Godwin Scerri and Joseph Bonett.

But he was not charged of any crime, while Fr Pulis and Fr Scerri were jailed for 6 and 5 years respectively, although they are currently out on appeal. Fr Bonett died earlier this year, before proceedings against him were concluded.

Last August, Fr Sciberras filed a judicial protest against one of the victims, Lawrence Grech, stating that his statements against him were prejudicing proceedings in the Vatican.

The Vatican's decision, made public today, states that "since moral certainty has not been attained that Fr Conrad Sciberras is being found guilty of having sexually abused a number of minors in the terms of current jurisprudence," he is not being found guilty of sexually abusing minors.

But "since evidence gives rise to serious suspicions, Fr Sciberras is having his sacred ministry restricted to be with persons of adult age," the Vatican ruled.

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