Bishop Andrzej Jeż Convicted in Tarnów District Court
A regional court in southern Poland convicted Bishop Andrzej Jeż of Tarnów for failing to report two priests accused of child sexual abuse to law enforcement, marking the first time a Polish bishop has faced a criminal conviction for negligence in handling abuse allegations. The District Court in Tarnów sentenced the 63-year-old prelate on Thursday to two years of restricted liberty, executed through a 25 percent deduction from his monthly salary of 4,000 zł, amounting to roughly €911, with the funds ordered to go to the Empowering Children Foundation, according to The Irish Times and The Tablet.
The case centers on two clerics from the Tarnów diocese identified under Polish privacy laws as Stanisław P. and Tomasz K. Prosecutors established that Stanisław P. had harmed at least 95 children over decades across various parishes in Poland and Ukraine. The church defrocked Stanisław P. in 2013, but Bishop Jeż did not inform state prosecutors about him until August 2020. Criminal proceedings against Stanisław P. were later discontinued in 2022 because the statute of limitations on his alleged pre-2017 crimes had expired. Prosecutors brought charges against the second priest, Tomasz K., in 2023, but trials have stalled due to the priest’s poor health, and Jeż only notified authorities regarding Tomasz K. in December 2021.
Legal Obligations and Papal Secrecy Defense
Poland introduced criminal liability in July 2017 carrying a maximum sentence of three years in prison for anyone who fails to immediately report credible information regarding the sexual abuse of minors. Before this legislation, reporting such crimes was treated as a social duty rather than a mandatory legal obligation. Prosecutors brought charges against Bishop Jeż under this 2017 statute after determining he possessed reliable information regarding both priests but delayed notifying state authorities for years.
During the eight-month trial, Jeż pleaded not guilty and testified that he reported all allegations to Rome as they arrived, arguing that “papal secrecy” provisions under canon law prevented him from going directly to secular police. He stated to the court that providing documents to authorities before notifying the Vatican would have cost him his position. The Tarnów District Court dismissed this argument, ruling that it contradicted statements made by the late Pope Francis and that the bishop’s testimony lacked credibility. Prosecutors had originally asked the court to hand down a 10-month prison sentence suspended for three years, but the judge opted instead for the salary deductions.
Diocese Response and Appeal Plans
The Tarnów Diocese Curia issued a statement maintaining that the bishop had diligently performed his duties and followed all necessary steps under both church and state law. The diocese stated that Jeż only gained concrete knowledge of Stanisław P.’s case in 2019 after acquiring documents concerning the priest’s service in Ukraine, and noted that one of the victims had already approached the District Prosecutor’s Office in Opole independently in 2010. Defense lawyers announced immediately following the verdict that they will request a written justification of the judgment from the Tarnów court and subsequently launch an appeal.
The conviction arrives amid a broader crisis of confidence in the Catholic Church across Poland, one of Europe’s most devoutly Catholic nations. High-profile negligence scandals prompted a bishop and an archbishop to resign in 2024. Polling data published by IBRiS demonstrates that public trust in the Catholic Church dropped to 35 percent in 2025, down significantly from 58 percent in 2016.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Trial
What exact penalty did Bishop Andrzej Jeż receive?
The Tarnów District Court sentenced Bishop Jeż to two years of restricted liberty, which the court ordered to be carried out through a 25 percent deduction from his 4,000 zł monthly salary. The deducted funds must be donated to the Empowering Children Foundation.
How many victims were linked to the priest known as Stanisław P.?
Prosecutors established that Stanisław P. had harmed at least 95 children over decades while serving in various parishes in Poland and Ukraine. Criminal proceedings against him were dropped in 2022 because the statute of limitations had elapsed.
When does the legal obligation to report abuse apply in Poland?
Poland enacted a law in July 2017 establishing criminal liability and a maximum three-year prison sentence for individuals who fail to immediately report credible information regarding the sexual abuse of minors. Bishop Jeż was convicted under this specific legislation.