Malta 2015 to 2025: The Church's Safeguarding Commission confirms abuse cases by priests, religious and lay staff year after year; many victims decline to report to police

What happened to the people

Who was affected? Victims and numbers

1. In 2017 the commission found three allegations of abuse of minors substantiated; the three personnel were restricted from public ministry and referred to the police. In 2018 six allegations were substantiated, four were referred to the police.
   Evidence: Safeguarding Commission, Kirche in Malta, Statistics of Referrals

   „In 2017, the Safeguarding Commission found three allegations to be substantiated and the three personnel have been restricted from public ministry.“

   Evidence: Safeguarding Commission, Kirche in Malta, Statistics of Referrals

   „These were referred by the Safeguarding Commission to the Police.“

   Evidence: Safeguarding Commission, Kirche in Malta, Statistics of complaints

   „In 2018, six allegations were found to be substantiated.“

   Evidence: Safeguarding Commission, Kirche in Malta, Statistics of complaints

   „Four allegations were referred to the Police for investigation.“

2. In 2023 the commission received 36 new referrals and found eight cases substantiated. In the substantiated cases involving minors, two subjects of complaint were diocesan priests; one case involved sexual abuse, emotional manipulation and a breach of professional boundaries, the other sexual abuse. Restriction from public ministry was recommended in both cases; only one was referred to the civil authorities.
   Evidence: Safeguarding Commission, Kirche in Malta, Statistics

   „The Safeguarding Commission received 36 new referrals and concluded 26 cases.“

   Evidence: Safeguarding Commission, Kirche in Malta, Outcome of assessments

   „There were a total of eight substantiated cases involving either minors or vulnerable adults.“

   Evidence: Safeguarding Commission, Kirche in Malta, Substantiated cases involving minors

   „In the four substantiated cases involving minors, two of the subjects of complaint were diocesan priests.“

   Evidence: Safeguarding Commission, Kirche in Malta, Substantiated cases involving minors

   „One of the cases involved sexual abuse, emotional manipulation and a breach of professional boundaries. The other case involved sexual abuse.“

   Evidence: Safeguarding Commission, Kirche in Malta, Substantiated cases involving minors

   „One of the diocesan priests was referred to the civil authorities.“

3. In 2024 the commission found nine cases involving vulnerable adults substantiated, four of them more than ten years old. Three involved diocesan priests and five involved three religious; one of them faced three separate allegations of sexual abuse, another one. One subject of complaint was reported to the police, but the victim did not pursue it; the other victims did not wish to file a police report despite an offer to accompany them. In 2025 six cases were substantiated, three of them more than ten years old.
   Evidence: Safeguarding Commission, Kirche in Malta, Concluded cases concerning vulnerable adults

   „were found to be substantiated.“

   Evidence: Safeguarding Commission, Kirche in Malta, Concluded cases concerning vulnerable adults

   „Four (4) of the substantiated cases were historical cases (more than 10 years ago).“

   Evidence: Safeguarding Commission, Kirche in Malta, Concluded cases concerning vulnerable adults

   „Three (3) substantiated cases involved diocesan priests, five (5) substantiated cases involved three (3) Religious“

   Evidence: Safeguarding Commission, Kirche in Malta, Concluded cases concerning vulnerable adults

   „one faced three (3) separate allegations of sexual abuse, while another also faced an allegation of sexual abuse.“

   Evidence: Safeguarding Commission, Kirche in Malta, Concluded cases concerning vulnerable adults

   „The other victims did not wish to file a police report, despite an offer by the Safeguarding Commission to accompany them.“

   Evidence: Safeguarding Commission, Kirche in Malta, Statistics

   „Forty-three cases were concluded and six were Substantiated.“

   Evidence: Safeguarding Commission, Kirche in Malta, Statistics

   „Three of the six Substantiated cases were Historical“

How were they charged and sentenced?

1. The commission was founded in 2015 by the Maltese Episcopal Conference and the Conference of Major Religious Superiors and replaced the Response Team, which had handled allegations since 1999. It does not determine guilt but assesses risk on the balance of probabilities; an allegation counts as substantiated when evidence proves that it happened.
   Evidence: Safeguarding Commission, Kirche in Malta, Foreword

   „The Safeguarding Commission was established in 2015 by the Maltese Episcopal Conference and the Conference of Major Religious Superiors“

   Evidence: Safeguarding Commission, Kirche in Malta, Einleitung

   „The entity replaced what was known as the Response Team, which had been handling allegations since 1999.“

   Evidence: Safeguarding Commission, Kirche in Malta, Begriffe

   „Substantiated Evidence was able to prove that the allegation did take place.“