This article analyzes the procedure of the Maltese diocesan court in dealing with clerical misconduct in the second half of the eighteenth century. The clergy were accused especially of physical and verbal abuse as well as of sexual incontinence. They were given a fair hearing, being assisted by a lawyer, presenting their own witnesses, and having the right to appeal the sentence. The article also discusses how the court tried to protect the clergy's honor and reputation in an attempt to avoid anticlericalism. Convicted priests could stop proceedings against them with a fine, and those of them guilty of immoral behavior were assigned another parish or else transferred to an oratory where they did penance.

中文翻译：

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马耳他教区法院的神职人员，1750-1798 年

本文分析了 18 世纪下半叶马耳他教区法院处理文书不当行为的程序。神职人员被指控特别是身体和言语虐待以及性失禁。他们得到了公平的听证，得到了律师的协助，提供了自己的证人，并有权对判决提出上诉。文章还讨论了法院如何试图保护神职人员的荣誉和声誉，以避免反教权主义。被定罪的神父可以以罚款停止对他们的诉讼，而那些犯有不道德行为的人被分配到另一个教区或转移到他们进行忏悔的演讲厅。