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Polish bishop convicted of delayed reporting of clergy abuse claims
A Tarnow court found Bishop Andrzej Jez guilty of not promptly notifying prosecutors of child sexual-abuse allegations involving two priests, Notes from Poland reported. The diocese said it will appeal.
A court in Poland on Thursday convicted Tarnow Bishop Andrzej Jez of failing to promptly notify law enforcement of allegations that priests under his authority sexually abused children, Notes from Poland reported1.
The outlet said it was the first time a Polish bishop had been tried and found guilty on that charge1.
Jez was not accused of taking part in the alleged abuse, Notes from Poland said. He was charged under a 2017 law that makes it a crime not to immediately notify authorities of credible information about sexual abuse of minors, an offense punishable by up to three years in prison1.
The case concerns two priests who can be identified only as Stanislaw P. and Tomasz K. under Polish privacy law, the report said. Investigators said an internal church inquiry into Stanislaw P. began in the 2000s and a decision to remove him from the clergy came in 2013, but Jez notified prosecutors only in 2020; in Tomasz K.'s case, notification came in 20211.
Notes from Poland said prosecutors discontinued a 2022 investigation of Stanislaw P. because the statute of limitations had expired, while concluding he had harmed at least 95 children over decades in parishes in Poland and Ukraine. Tomasz K. was to be charged over alleged abuse as early as 2018, but prosecutors have been unable to present charges because of his health, the outlet said, citing OKO.press1.
Prosecutor Marcin Stepien said the delayed reports allowed the statute of limitations to expire for some of Stanislaw P.'s victims and that Jez came forward after media coverage, according to Notes from Poland, citing TVN1.
Prosecutors sought a 10-month prison term, suspended for three years, and a 20,000 zloty fine, the report said. Jez denied the charge and asked for acquittal, arguing he notified authorities as soon as there was credible information1.
The court imposed a restriction of liberty requiring him to donate 25 percent of his salary for two years to the Empowering Children Foundation (Dajemy Dzieciom Sile) and to pay 20,000 zloty to a victims assistance fund, Notes from Poland said. The verdict can be appealed1.
The Tarnow diocese said it "disagrees with the court's ruling" and that an appeal will be filed after the written justification is reviewed, according to the report1.
