ADPD-The Green Party said that ”the case of rape that took place in Gozo in 2008 and for which the accused were acquitted in recent days, is of great concern due to the handling associated with it.”

In a statement, the Green Party said that ”not only because the rapists were protected more than the victim, but also because a priest close to the accused involved himself in efforts to keep it quiet in the hope that it would be forgotten.”

ADPD stressed that ”apart from the conflict of interest of this priest there is the fact that in a case of this gravity an attempt was made to buy silence with 7000 euros.”

Chairperson of ADPD-The Green Party Sandra Gauci said, “it is concerning that it is only now that the Church in Gozo has woken up and is considering whether there is room for steps to be taken on its part.”

”It is obvious that it is moving now, after almost 20 years, due to the outcry that arose due to the fact that the priest involved has not only not been disciplined, but has even been appointed Parish Priest and Assistant Head of a church school,” added Gauci. ”All this indicates a lack of sensitivity to the suffering that the victim and her family have gone through.”

“It seems that we are still far from the Church in Gozo putting into practice what it preaches. From here I would like to offer solidarity with the victim.”

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