The young man died in an apartment in Sosnowiec occupied by a member of the episcopal court in that city. The priest – as the “Fakty” reporter found out – had been detained by the police in the past in connection with drug possession. The prosecutor's office initiated an investigation and ordered an autopsy, which took place on Thursday. It did not show any injuries, additional tests will be necessary.
The Sosnowiec-Północ District Prosecutor's Office initiated an investigation on Thursday to explain the reasons and circumstances the death of a young man who died on Wednesday in an apartment occupied by a priest one of the parishes in Sosnowiec.
As the reporter of “Fakty TVN” Paweł Szot found out, the death occurred in the apartment of a specialist in canon law and a member of the bishop's court in Sosnowiec. – He was detained by the police in the past in connection with drug possession. According to unofficial information, this time he was also carrying prohibited substances, the journalist found.
Paweł Szot adds that the man who died in the priest's apartment was bleeding from the nose and there was a wound on his temple. However, according to investigators, this could not have been the cause of death. The autopsy performed on Thursday did not show any external or internal injuries.
They are waiting for the test results
As Zbigniew Pawlik, the head of the Sosnowiec-Północ District Prosecutor's Office, told us, it will be necessary to carry out additional histopathological and toxicological tests. The first ones will answer the question whether the man was sick. Secondly, whether the use of any substances could have contributed to the death.
– The investigation was initiated under Article 155 of the Penal Code, i.e. unintentional manslaughter, but I would like to point out that this is a standard procedure for initiating an investigation when we do not know the cause of death and we need to clarify the circumstances – said Pawlik.
Curia: the priest started resuscitation and called an ambulance
The young man died on Wednesday. The diocesan curia in Sosnowiec commented on the matter that day, stating in a statement posted on its website that “it was with deep sadness and disbelief that it took note of the information about the event that took place in the apartment occupied by a priest of one of the parishes in Sosnowiec.”
“Despite the resuscitation efforts undertaken by the priest and the rescuers he called medical services, it was not possible to save the life of a young man present in the apartment. Routine investigations by the prosecutor's office are being carried out. The Diocesan Curia in Sosnowiec fully cooperates with the procedural authorities,” assured representatives of the diocese.
Who was the deceased and what was he doing at the priest's? Only secrets
The inspection of the place where the death occurred began on Wednesday just after noon and ended before 5 p.m. Neither the prosecutor's office nor the curia provide information about who the deceased man was, what he was doing in the priest's apartment and how old he was. Investigators do not say whether anyone has been detained in this case, nor do they reveal any other details of the findings so far.
Investigators do not refer to the curia's information that it was the priest who called the ambulance. They don't answer the question of who called the police. All we know is that the prosecutor, a forensic technician, investigators and a forensic medicine expert were on site on Wednesday around 12 p.m. and that they know the victim's details.
– I must keep the investigation secret for its good, but also for the good of the injured party's relatives, who have already been informed about this fact; we are in contact with them. We will not provide more detailed information about our findings, said prosecutor Pawlik.
This is not the first tragedy in the Sosnowiec diocese
This is another tragedy that happened in the Sosnowiec church in the last several months. The prosecutor's office is still investigating circumstances of the death of a priest and a deacon, whose bodies were found in March 2023. Both clergy served in the cathedral basilica of St. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sosnowiec; they were in conflict with each other. According to unofficial information from the investigation, the priest probably killed the deacon with a knife and later committed suicide by throwing himself in front of a train.
A few months ago, the Sosnowiec diocese was shaken by a moral scandal after “Gazeta Wyborcza” published an article about the events that took place in August 2023 in the apartment of Father Tomasz Z., located in the parish of St. Blessed Virgin Mary of the Angels in Dąbrowa Górnicza. “Wyborcza” described it as a sexual party that got out of control. When one of the meeting participants lost consciousness, another called an ambulance, but the rescuers were not allowed to enter; Eventually, the police were called to the scene, and after the intervention of rescuers they were able to take care of the unconscious man. In January this year priest Tomasz Z. was arrested among others on charges of crimes against sexual freedom and decency, failure to provide assistance and providing drugs.
In October 2023, the Apostolic Nunciature announced that Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Grzegorz Kaszak from his position as bishop of Sosnowiec. Archbishop Adrian Galbas, Metropolitan of Katowice, was appointed administrator of the Sosnowiec diocese.
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