In such cases, the greatest erosion of trust may have less to do
with the abuse in itself, than with the Church’s handling of the issue. There can be little doubt that, if any one issue has seriously
undermined public trust in the global Catholic Church in recent years,
that issue would be child abuse.
Scandals erupting in Ireland, the USA, Australia and
elsewhere have undeniably traumatised the world Catholic community. The
Maltese Church was no exception, as the cases of Godwin Scerri and
Carmelo Pulis – two priests convicted in 2012 of having abused up to 11
boys – made clear.