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Thursday, November 7, 2024

Warsaw. A priest accused of pedophilia on posters promoting the oratory

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Posters promoting an oratorio dedicated to John Paul II, planned in October in four Masovian parishes, featured a priest accused of sexual abuse of a child. The case outraged the faithful and some concerts were canceled.

The oratorio “Totus Tuus”, as we read on the poster promoting the event, is “a verbal and musical work dedicated to Saint John Paul II”. As announced, the soloists and the Sinfonia Nova Orchestra conducted by Łukasz Wojakowski were to appear on stage. The oratory was planned in four parishes: St. Vladimir in Warsaw's Bródno (October 6), Our Lady Queen of Poland in Wołomin (October 13), St. Margaret in Łomianki (October 20) and Our Lady of Częstochowa in Zielonka (October 22).

Charges against the priest

In addition to the image of John Paul II, the poster also featured the name and photo of another person. This is Father Jan Ś., who was presented on the poster as the author of the oratorio.

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However, as gazeta.pl found out, he was a former parish priest in Otwock. The portal confirmed with the spokesman of the Warsaw-Praga District Prosecutor's Office that the priest was convicted last year the prosecutor's office charged a crime under Art. 200 pairs 1 of the Penal Code, i.e. sexual intercourse with a minor under 15 years of age or other sexual activity. In addition, the priest was accused of committing an act under Art. 199 pairs 3 of the Penal Code – sexual intercourse with a minor under 15 years of age or other sexual activity involving abuse of trust or providing material or personal benefits or the promise thereof. The indictment in this case was received last summer, and after that Ś. he was removed from the position of parish priest. His case is being handled by the District Court in Wołomin, and another hearing has been scheduled on November 18 this year.

The fact that a priest with such accusations appeared on posters promoting the oratory caused outrage among many believers. Among others, the parish in Zielonka resigned from organizing the event, but informed about it the day before. “Dear parishioners, we would like to correct information that may have been misleading in recent days. We would like to inform you that the planned concert in our parish will not take place. We apologize for any inconvenience and confusion that may have resulted from unclear messages,” the parish wrote on Facebook.

The diocese didn't know anything about it, and neither did the local governments

According to the findings of gazeta.pl, concerts were also canceled in Łomianki and Wołomin. However, the one in Warsaw was supposed to take place. However, the parish in Warsaw's Bródno district did not boast about it on social media.

The portal also asked the Warsaw-Praga diocese to comment on this matter. As her spokesman assured, Fr. Dawid Sychowski, the diocese “was not the originator of and did not organize the musical event of the Oratorio “Totus Tuus”, dedicated to Saint John Paul II.” As he stated, the parishes mentioned on the posters had not previously consulted the diocesan authorities.

Local governments were also mentioned on the posters as co-organizers. Their representatives explained to gazeta.pl that they withdrew from the event after receiving information about the allegations against the former parish priest, they did not accept the posters that circulated on the Internet or did not receive versions in which the image of the priest appeared.

gazeta.pl, tvnwarszawa.pl

Main photo source: Parish of Our Lady of Częstochowa in Zielonka/FACEBOOK



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