The Tarnów District Court (Sąd Rejonowy) found Bishop Andrzej Jeż of Tarnów guilty on Thursday, 29 October, of reporting to law enforcement too late the sexual crimes committed by two priests under his authority. The verdict is not final, and the diocesan curia has announced an appeal.
For each of the two offences, the court sentenced the bishop to one year and six months of restricted liberty. In total, that means two years during which 25% of his salary will be paid monthly to the Dajemy Dzieciom Siłę Foundation (Give Children Strength Foundation), according to Polsat News. The bishop did not attend court for the announcement of the verdict.
What the bishop was charged with
The charges concerned priests Stanisław P. and Tomasz K. According to prosecutors, the bishop had credible information about the sexual abuse of children under 15 and did not pass it on to law enforcement without delay. The cases were reported, but in the prosecution’s view, too late. Prosecutor Marcin Stępień said in his closing speech that the delay contributed to the statute of limitations expiring in cases involving some of the victims.
The basis for liability is a provision introduced by the act of 23 March 2017. Failing to report such crimes carries a penalty of up to three years in prison. The prosecution sought a sentence of 10 months’ imprisonment, suspended for three years, and a fine of PLN 20,000 for the bishop. The defence asked for an acquittal.
The defence’s position
Bishop Jeż did not admit guilt. He explained the delays by legal doubts. In the case of Stanisław P., he argued that the crimes were committed mainly in Ukraine, which made it difficult to identify the appropriate authorities. In the case of Tomasz K., he claimed that for a long time he did not know that some of the victims were under 15.
Defence counsel, former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ćwiąkalski, argued that until 2022 there were doubts as to whether the reporting obligation covered offences committed before the 2017 change in the law. The Supreme Court later ruled that it did. According to Onet, the judge, in justifying the verdict, found the bishop’s testimony not credible. The written justification is not yet known.
The curia’s position
The Diocesan Curia in Tarnów received the verdict “for information” but does not agree with it. In a statement published by the Limanowa.in portal, it said the verdict does not finally determine the bishop’s criminal liability. The defence lawyers intend to request the written justification and, after analysing it, to file an appeal. The curia also stressed that in both cases it had lodged formal reports with law enforcement.
Context of the trial
The proceedings lasted eight months. The court heard, among others, former Bishop of Tarnów Wiktor Skworc, a former diocesan delegate for the protection of children and young people, and one of the victims. The case of Stanisław P. was discontinued in 2022 due to the statute of limitations. The case of Tomasz K. is before the court in Nowy Sącz. There were several dozen victims.
According to Polsat News and other media, this is the first trial in Poland of a serving diocesan bishop for failing to report such crimes.
What comes next
The verdict is not final, so the bishop formally remains without a criminal record until the appeal court rules. Salary deductions will begin only once the verdict becomes final. Radio Kraków calculated that, based on the gross salary of PLN 4,800 that the bishop gave at the first hearing, 25% would amount to PLN 1,200 a month, or PLN 28,800 over two years. As of publication, we had no reaction from the Polish Episcopal Conference or the Holy See.
