In 2010, the Times of Malta reported that “a total of 84 allegations of child abuse, involving 45 Maltese priests, were reported to a Church response team over the last 11 years”. Since then, we never heard of those allegations of child abuse involving 45 Maltese priests.

The allegations were swept under the Church’s carpet. Last May 6, this newspaper reported that: “Five people had their pastoral activity restricted by the Church after its so-called Safeguarding Commission investigated 46 people last year following claims of abuse.”

The obvious question needs to be asked: who are these ‘people’? Were the ‘five people’ who had their pastoral activity restricted by the Church priests?

The record shows that in dioceses in Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia, Germany, Austria and The Netherlands, the Catholic Church was more interested in safeguarding its reputation than in safeguarding children from paedophile priests. “We don’t focus on whether the person is guilty or not,” said Andrew Azzopardi, the head of the Church’s Safeguarding Commission.

“We identify a certain element of risk and we make recommendations accordingly.” The commission said that two- thirds of the cases, 31, involved minors and that most of the complaints were about sexual abuse. Will this sexual abuse be reported to the police or will it remain concealed behind the ‘holy doors’?