Polish bishop convicted of failing to report clergy abuse of minors
The court gave him a two-year restriction of liberty and said the verdict is not final after he denied the charges.
- On Thursday, a court in Poland convicted Polish Bishop Andrzej Jez for failing to notify authorities about the sexual abuse of minors by two priests, marking the highest-profile conviction of a Catholic Church leader in the country.
- During his trial in Tarnow, Jez pleaded not guilty, explaining that the delay in reporting resulted from the "ambiguity of criminal regulations" and specific circumstances of the individual cases.
- The court sentenced Jez to two years of restriction of liberty, to be carried out through salary deductions; the verdict is not final as the bishop maintains his innocence.
- A 2025 IBRiS poll indicated that the percentage of Poles who trust the Catholic Church fell to 35% from 58%, reflecting declining confidence within the nation.
- Clergy abuse scandals have eroded institutional trust in Europe, following the resignations of a bishop and an archbishop over negligence in handling similar cases.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Polish bishop convicted of failing to report clergy abuse of minors
The District Court in Tarnów found Bishop Andrzej Jeż guilty of failing to notify law enforcement authorities of sexual offenses committed by two priests. The verdict was issued on Thursday, October 29, after more than eight months of trial. The priest did not appear in court for the ruling. The case is unprecedented, as it is the first trial in Poland involving a bishop for failing to report pedophilia crimes committed by priests under his comm…
On Thursday morning, the District Court in Tarnów handed down an unprecedented verdict. Bishop Andrzej Jeż was convicted of covering up pedophilia among his priests. The court sentenced the priest to two years of restricted freedom through salary deductions. "Fakt" asked renowned priest Professor Andrzej Kobyliński, a philosopher and professor of humanities in Warsaw, for comment. "Everyone is equal before the law."
The District Court in Tarnów found Bishop Andrzej Jeż guilty of failing to report to law enforcement agencies the sexual abuse of minors by two priests from his diocese. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment with salary deductions. The judgment is not final.
The Diocesan Curia in Tarnów does not agree with the sentence convicting Bishop Andrzej Jež for failing to notify the law enforcement authorities in a timely manner about sexual crimes against minors, which were allegedly committed by two priests subordinate to him. In a statement, she announced an appeal.
Today's court ruling imposes on Jeż the retention of 25% of his monthly salary which will be allocated to the foundation "Dajemy Dzieciom Si-" ("We give strength to children"), along with the payment of about 2,300 euros to the state victim support fund
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