Summary: A Catholic bishop in Poland has been found guilty of failing to promptly report child sex abuse allegations against priests under his authority, in the first ruling of its kind in the country. Andrzej Jeż, bishop of Tarnów, received a non-custodial sentence requiring him to donate 25% of his earnings for two years to a charity supporting victims. The diocese says it disagrees with the ruling and will appeal. Prosecutors had sought a suspended 10-month prison term and a fine, while Jeż denied the charges and argued he reported the abuse as soon as there was credible information.
Why it matters: Centralised Christian religious institutions have been implicated in documented sexual abuse cases across the world, on a staggering scale probably exceeded only by the child sexual abuse epidemic afflicting Islamic madrasas. Yet Indian elites in the media, academia and judiciary remain deferential towards exclusivist monotheistic religions, while looking down on Hindu Dharma and vilifying Hindu practices at the slightest pretext.
“Polish bishop convicted for failing to promptly report child sex abuse allegations – Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests” — Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, 29 Oct 2026
TARNóW, POLAND — In the first ruling of its kind in Poland, a Catholic bishop has been found guilty of failing to promptly inform the law enforcement authorities about allegations of child sex abuse committed by priests under his authority.
Andrzej Jeż, the bishop of Tarnów, was handed a non-custodial sentence that will require him to donate 25% of his earnings for two years to a charity that supports victims of child sexual abuse.
However, the verdict can still be appealed, and the diocese of Tarnów has already announced that it “disagrees with the court’s ruling” and that an appeal will be filed…
Read the full article at Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests →
