WARSAW, Poland — Criminal proceedings began Wednesday against a Catholic bishop in Poland who stands accused of failing to promptly notify law enforcement about child sexual abuse allegations involving two priests under his supervision.
This criminal case represents a historic first in Poland, as no bishop has previously faced trial for alleged mishandling of abuse reports concerning clergy within their jurisdiction.
The Roman Catholic Church has historically held tremendous moral influence in Poland, serving as a beacon of hope throughout periods of foreign occupation and lending crucial support to the Solidarity movement that challenged communist rule during the 1980s.
However, ongoing revelations about clerical misconduct and systematic concealment by church leadership over many decades have severely undermined public trust in the religious hierarchy, which gave the world the beloved Pope St. John Paul II.
Church officials have been criticized for dismissing criminal behavior or relocating problematic clergy to different parishes after scandals became public knowledge. Data released by the Polish Episcopal Conference in 2019 revealed that 382 sexual abuse allegations against priests were submitted to church authorities during the period from 1990 to 2018.
Catholic Church canon law does not mandate that bishops contact law enforcement when they learn of suspected abuse by clergy members, and for generations they handled such matters internally, prioritizing institutional reputation over victim welfare.
Criminal charges against bishops for failing to report abuse to civil authorities remain extremely rare, even in nations that have extensively addressed clerical misconduct. France saw Lyon Cardinal Philippe Barbarin convicted in 2019 for concealing an abusive priest’s crimes, though an appeals court later reversed that decision in 2021.
Polish prosecutors contended in court Wednesday that Bishop Andrzej Jeż should have contacted authorities immediately after receiving reliable information regarding alleged child abuse by priests within his diocese, according to the Polish Press Agency.
While the Catholic Church did launch internal inquiries into both priests under Jeż’s authority and eventually notified law enforcement, prosecutors maintain that legal requirements demand immediate reporting without delay.
If found guilty, Jeż could receive up to three years imprisonment. The bishop maintains his innocence, asserting he contacted authorities once the church had verified the allegations and after he understood his legal reporting obligations.
Jeż has led the Tarnow diocese in southern Poland since his appointment in 2012.
“I express my regret and apologies to all those who were harmed and to other people who suffered because of this, often including families,” Jeż stated Wednesday.
