Polish bishop on trial over alleged delays in reporting claims of child abuse by priests

Polish Bishop Faces Unprecedented Trial for Failing to Report Clergy Abuse

A groundbreaking trial began Wednesday in Poland as Bishop Andrzej Jeż faced criminal charges for allegedly failing to promptly report suspected sexual abuse of children by priests under his authority. The case marks the first time in Polish history that a bishop has been prosecuted for such allegations.

Prosecutors contend that Jeż, who has led the Tarnow diocese in southern Poland since 2012, violated his legal obligation to immediately inform authorities after receiving credible information about alleged child abuse committed by two priests in his diocese. Under Polish law, such delays in reporting are considered criminal offenses that can carry up to three years imprisonment.

During the opening of the trial, Jeż maintained his innocence. He claimed that he informed authorities as soon as the church had clarified the facts and once he became aware of his legal obligation to do so. Despite his defense, he acknowledged the gravity of the situation.

“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 in court on Wednesday.

The case highlights the growing tension between the Catholic Church’s internal protocols and secular legal requirements. Under Canon Law—the church’s internal legal system—bishops traditionally weren’t required to inform police of suspected abuse by priests. For decades, such cases were handled internally, a practice that critics say prioritized the institution’s reputation over victims’ welfare.

Poland’s reckoning with clergy abuse comes later than in many Western countries but has intensified in recent years. The Catholic Church has occupied a uniquely powerful position in Polish society, having served as a moral authority and national symbol during foreign occupation and communist rule. The church was particularly influential during the rise of the anti-communist Solidarity movement in the 1980s, which eventually helped topple the communist regime.

This historical role has made confronting abuse allegations especially complicated in Poland, which produced the Church’s most globally recognized figure, Pope John Paul II. As revelations of abuse and cover-ups have emerged, public trust in church leadership has eroded significantly.

According to a 2019 report by the Polish Episcopal Conference, the central governing body of the Polish Catholic Church, 382 sexual abuse complaints against priests were filed with the church between 1990 and 2018. However, victims’ advocates believe the actual numbers are likely much higher, as many cases go unreported due to stigma and fear.

Criminal prosecutions of bishops for failure to report abuse remain rare globally, even in countries with extensive histories of addressing clerical abuse. In France, Cardinal Philippe Barbarin of Lyon was convicted in 2019 for covering up sex crimes committed by a priest, but his conviction was overturned two years later on appeal.

Legal experts note that the Polish case could set an important precedent for ecclesiastical accountability in Eastern Europe. Unlike many historical cases where the statute of limitations had expired, this prosecution focuses on more recent failures to report, potentially creating a pathway for similar cases throughout the region.

The trial continues amid broader reforms within the Catholic Church globally. Pope Francis has implemented new procedures requiring clerics to report abuse to church authorities, but critics argue these measures don’t go far enough in mandating cooperation with civil authorities.

For many Polish Catholics, the trial represents a painful but necessary step in reconciling faith with accountability, as the institution that once stood as the nation’s moral compass now faces scrutiny for failing to protect its most vulnerable members.