A Roman Catholic priest on trial for allegedly molesting children in
his care has died just days after Maltese church officials announced a
special church tribunal would consider canonical penalties against him
as well.
Brother Joe Bonet had suffered from bone cancer.
The
63-year-old Bonet died at a home for elderly priests, according to the
Times of Malta.
He was one of three clerics on trial for seven
years, accused of molesting children who lived at the St. Joseph's Home
decades ago.
Victims had long complained that Maltese courts and
the Vatican's own justice system had moved to slowly to hear their
claims, and Bonet's death is likely to fuel their complaints.
The
victims were received by Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to Malta in
April.
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