According to “Rzeczpospolita”, in just five months in 2021, the Holy See announced the completion of as many as 11 proceedings in bishops’ cases. They were accused of negligence in explaining cases of sexual abuse of minors committed by priests under their supervision.
In nine cases, the allegations were confirmed and sanctions were imposed on the clergy. One of such people was Bishop Stefan Regmunt, senior of the Zielona Góra-Gorzów diocese. He was punished, among others: a ban on participating in the work of the Polish Episcopal Conference.
The bishop was punished. He has not been punished yet. Why?
Even though two and a half years have passed since the announcement of the penalties, Bishop Stefan Regmunt has still not been dismissed from the Audit Committee of the KEP and the Supervisory Committee of Caritas Polska.
– says a canon lawyer in an interview with “Rzeczpospolita”, adding that the Vatican should control how its sanctions are implemented in practice.
“Rzeczpospolita” contacted a representative of the Polish Episcopal Conference.
-– wrote priests Leszek Gęsiak, spokesman for the Polish Episcopal Conference, and Fr. Piotr Studnicki, head of the office of the KEP delegate for the protection of children and youth.
The clergy also announced that the formalities would be completed during the next plenary meeting of the Polish Episcopal Conference. They emphasized that the lack of appropriate actions was not intentional and was not intended to undermine the Vatican’s decision or to harm the injured people.
Source: “Rzeczpospolita”
Tags: Vatican punished bishop Poland consequences country KEP translates
