– We react and immediately implement church procedures developed for such cases. We want to clarify these two issues, so we will look at them carefully. At the same time, our thoughts are with people harmed in the Church. Each of them can count on our support. The diocesan office of the delegate for the protection of children and youth is there to receive reports from harmed people, but also to meet their needs and offer appropriate help, Fr. told KAI. Przemysław Lech.
We publish the content of the statement of the Diocesan Curia in Sosnowiec:
Each time the Diocesan Curia obtains knowledge or reports of the possibility of committing crimes by a clergyman, it takes actions provided for by Polish law and canon law. At the same time, we want to assure the victims that we are ready to provide help, including psychological, psychotherapeutic and spiritual help.
With reference to the charges brought against two clergy of the Sosnowiec diocese on October 2, the Diocesan Curia also informs that:
1) On September 26, 2023, Bishop Sosnowiecki applied preventive measures provided for by church law to one of the detained clergy. This occurred as a result of a report of a potential prohibited act received by the then Bishop. From then on, the priest was banned from any public pastoral service and from contact with young people and children. At that time, the priest was outside the parish, in a place indicated by the Bishop of Sosnowiec.
2) On October 2 this year, the Bishop of Sosnowiec applied to the second of the detained clergy. preventive measures provided for by law: he suspended him from performing his duties as a parish priest, issued a ban on public celebration of the sacraments and a ban on contact with children.
3) The third detainee is not a priest. In 2019, it was transferred to secular status. The Diocesan Curia has not known his whereabouts since 2016.
The preventive measures remain in force until the allegations against both clergy are clarified. The Diocesan Curia declares full openness and cooperation with the bodies conducting the proceedings.
We would like to remind you that in June, the Bishop of Sosnowiec, Artur Ważny, initiated the activities of the commission, the aim of which is to investigate any potential irregularities that may have occurred in the Diocese in recent years. One of the commission’s tasks will also be to investigate all reported cases of sexual abuse since the establishment of the Sosnowiec diocese, i.e. since 1992.
priest Przemysław Lech, spokesman for the Diocesan Curia in Sosnowiec
