A Polish Catholic bishop has been found guilty of failing to promptly report allegations of child sex abuse by priests under his authority, in the first ruling of its kind in the country. The court ordered Andrzej Jeż, the bishop of Tarnów, to donate 25 per cent of his salary for two years to a charity supporting victims of child sexual abuse and pay 20,000 zloty to a victims’ assistance fund. The diocese has said it disagrees with the ruling and that an appeal will be filed after the court’s written justification is reviewed.
The case concerns allegations against two priests, identified under Polish privacy law only as Stanisław P. and Tomasz K. Prosecutors discontinued an investigation into Stanisław P. in 2022 because the statute of limitations had expired, despite concluding he had harmed at least 95 children. Tomasz K. was charged in 2023 but could not be formally presented with charges due to poor health.
Bishop Jeż was not accused of complicity in the alleged abuse itself but of failing to immediately notify authorities of credible information about abuse, under a 2017 law carrying up to three years in prison. Investigators said an internal church probe into Stanisław P. began in the 2000s and a decision to remove him from the clergy was made in 2013, yet Jeż only notified prosecutors in 2020. In the case of Tomasz K., he reported in 2021.
Prosecutor Marcin Stępień argued in court that Jeż's delay had allowed the statute of limitations to expire for some victims and that he came forward only after media coverage brought the allegations to light. Jeż denied the charges and sought acquittal, saying he reported as soon as credible information was available.
The court imposed a sentence of "restriction of liberty", requiring 25 per cent of his earnings for two years to go to the Empowering Children Foundation, plus a payment of 20,000 zloty to a victims' assistance fund. The diocese of Tarnów said in a statement it "disagreed with the court's ruling" and would file an appeal after reviewing the court's written justification.
The Catholic Church in Poland has faced a series of revelations about historical abuse of minors by clergy and accusations that bishops covered up cases. The Vatican has taken action against several Polish bishops, including the resignation of the bishop of Łowicz in 2024 for negligence in handling abuse cases.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- This is the first conviction of a Polish bishop for failing to report child sex abuse, marking a potential shift in legal accountability for church leaders.
- The case highlights the tension between church internal procedures and civil law obligations to report abuse.
- It may encourage other victims and prosecutors to pursue similar cases against bishops who delayed reporting.
Background
The Catholic Church in Poland has been hit by multiple scandals involving child sexual abuse by clergy and cover-ups by bishops. A 2017 law requires anyone with credible information about child sexual abuse to immediately notify authorities, and this case tests its application to senior church figures.
Key Perspectives
Court and prosecution: Argued that Bishop Jeż delayed reporting abuse allegations, allowing the statute of limitations to expire for some victims and only acting after media exposure.
Bishop and diocese: Jeż denied wrongdoing, maintaining he reported as soon as credible information was obtained. The diocese said it disagrees with the verdict and will appeal.
What to Watch
- The appeal process and whether the sentence is upheld, reduced, or overturned.
- Whether other Polish bishops face similar charges in the future.
- The Vatican's response to the conviction and any further disciplinary actions.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedBishop Andrzej Jeż was convicted of failing to promptly report child sex abuse allegations by priests under his authority.Notes from Poland: “In the first ruling of its kind in Poland, a Catholic bishop has been found guilty of failing to promptly inform the law enforcement authorities about allegations of child sex abuse committed by priests under his authority.”
- SupportedThe conviction is the first ruling of its kind in Poland.Notes from Poland: “In the first ruling of its kind in Poland, a Catholic bishop has been found guilty”
- SupportedThe court ordered Jeż to donate 25% of his salary for two years to a charity supporting victims of child abuse.Notes from Poland: “the court ordered that 25% of his salary for two years be donated to the Empowering Children Foundation (Dajemy Dzieciom Siłę), which supports victims of child abuse.”
- SupportedThe court ordered Jeż to pay 20,000 zloty to a victims’ assistance fund.Notes from Poland: “He was additionally ordered to pay 20,000 zloty to the Fund for Assistance to Victims and Post-Penitentiary Assistance.”
- SupportedThe Tarnów diocese said it disagreed with the ruling and would appeal after reviewing the court’s written justification.Notes from Poland: “the diocese of Tarnów said that it “disagreed with the court’s ruling” and that, after a written justification from the court was reviewed, “an appeal will be filed”.”
- SupportedThe case concerns allegations against two priests identified as Stanisław P. and Tomasz K. under Polish privacy law.Notes from Poland: “The case relates to alleged abuse by two priests who worked under Jeż’s authority. They can be identified only as Stanisław P. and Tomasz K. under Polish privacy law.”
- SupportedProsecutors discontinued the investigation into Stanisław P. in 2022 because the statute of limitations had expired, despite concluding he had harmed at least 95 children.Notes from Poland: “In 2022, prosecutors discontinued an investigation into allegations against Stanisław P. because the statute of limitations had expired, despite concluding that he had harmed at least 95 children”
- SupportedTomasz K. was charged in 2023, but prosecutors could not formally present the charges because of his poor health.Notes from Poland: “In 2023, prosecutors decided to charge Tomasz K. ... However, they have been unable to formally present the charges to him because of his poor health”
- SupportedJeż was not accused of complicity in the alleged abuse; he was charged under a 2017 law for not immediately reporting credible information about sexual abuse of minors.Notes from Poland: “Though Jeż was not accused of complicity in the alleged abuse itself, he was charged under a 2017 law making it a criminal offence not to “immediately notify the authorities” of “credible information” about sexual abuse of minors.”
- SupportedInvestigators said the church probe into Stanisław P. began in the 2000s, a decision to remove him from the clergy was made in 2013, and Jeż notified prosecutors in 2020.Notes from Poland: “Investigators say that, although an internal church probe into Stanisław P. was initiated in the 2000s and a decision to remove him from the clergy was made in 2013, Jeż only notified the prosecutor’s office in 2020.”
- SupportedJeż notified prosecutors about Tomasz K. in 2021.Notes from Poland: “In the case of Tomasz K., the bishop notified prosecutors only in 2021.”
- SupportedProsecutor Marcin Stępień argued that Jeż’s delay let the statute of limitations expire for some victims and said Jeż came forward only after media coverage brought the allegations to light.Notes from Poland: “In court, prosecutor Marcin Stępień said that Jeż’s failure to report the abuse promptly had allowed the statute of limitations to expire in the case of some of Stanisław P.’s victims. Stępień also noted that the bishop had only come forward with the information when media coverage brought the allegations against Stanisław P. to light”