The Vatican has banned the former archpriest of Xagħra, who was investigated for sexually abusing an altar boy more than two decades ago, from ever again exerci
The former Archpriest of Xagħra, Gozo, Mgr Eucharist Sultana, was investigated by the police over allegations of having sexually abused a teenage altar boy but no criminal action had been taken as the case was time-barred, a police spokesman has told Times of Malta.
Sultana was investigated in 2018 at the same time that he was stopped from carrying out any priestly duties, including saying mass.
Earlier this week he was one of the witnesses summoned by the police in the case against two other priests who were arraigned last week and accused of abusing an altar boy.
He told the court that he had been at the seminary with the other priests but could not remember the victim or whether he had been an altar boy at the time that he was archpriest.
Court rules there is enough evidence for Attorney General to issue a bill of indictment against Fr Joseph Sultana and Fr Joseph Cini, accused of sexually abusing an altar boy
Updated 3.10pm
A former altar boy who claims he was sexually abused by two priests in Xagħra first mentioned his childhood trauma in September 2019 but only named the alleged perpetrators several months later, Gozo bishop Anton Teuma told a court on Monday.
Teuma said the victim had first mentioned the abuse in their sixth counselling session together, held in September 2019, but gave no names or details. He was the first person the victim had confided in.
He only mentioned the names of his alleged abusers – Xagħra priests Joseph Cini, 70, and Joseph Sultana, 84 - in March 2020 during the last of 19 counselling sessions, Teuma recalled while testifying.
Priests charged with sexual abuse of altar boy to face formal charges after court rules it has seen enough evidence
Court rules there is enough evidence for Attorney General to issue a bill of indictment against Fr Joseph Sultana and Fr Joseph Cini, accused of sexually abusing an altar boy
1 February 2021, 10:42am
by Kurt Sansone
Fr Joseph Sultana (left) and Fr Joseph Cini (right) exiting the courthouse in Gozo after the first sitting in the compilation of evidence against them. They stand charged with sexual abuse and rape of an altar boy.
A magistrate has ruled that there is enough evidence for the Attorney General to issue a bill of indictment against two priests accused of sexually abusing an altar boy.