Polish prelate accused of sexual
abuse
By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
Rome
While the sexual abuse crisis in the American church continues to
widen, a less heralded case in Poland threatens to lay questions about the
oversight of potential abusers directly at the feet of John Paul II
himself.
Archbishop Juliusz Paetz, 67, of Poznan, Poland, has been accused
of sexually molesting seminarians at his diocesan seminary. Vatican sources
tell NCR that the case has alarmed the popes inner circle, in part
because Paetz spent more than a decade in the Vatican, including four years
working in Karol Wojtylas papal household.
The current charges against Paetz arise from the period since he
became archbishop. If it should turn out, however, that concerns about his
behavior date back considerably earlier, it could raise potentially explosive
doubts about John Pauls judgment in promoting him to the episcopacy and
promoting him again.
Paetz was a prelate of the ante-camera from 1976 to
1982, meaning a cleric in service to the papal household, the last four years
under John Paul II. His function was ceremonial, requiring him to greet
dignitaries at the papal apartment and show them into meetings with the
pope.
After Paetz and his fellow prelate of the ante-camera were made
bishops in 1982 and given other assignments, the office was formally
abolished.
Prior to entering the papal household, Paetz worked in Rome in the
Synod of Bishops from 1967 to 1976. After his Vatican service, he was named
bishop of Lomza, Poland, by John Paul in 1982. The pope then made him
archbishop of Poznan in 1996.
During his time in Rome, sources told NCR, Paetz was a
protégé of Polish Cardinal Wladyslaw Rubin. As one of only a
handful of Polish prelates in the Vatican prior to the election of Karol
Wojtyla in 1978, sources say Paetz had an automatic rapport with the new Polish
pope.
The charges of sexual molestation against Paetz came to public
attention after a Feb. 23-24 report in the respected Polish newspaper
Rzeczpospolita. The rector of the Poznan seminary, according to the
report, barred Paetz from visiting in the wake of these concerns.
Paetz has denied the charges, saying his actions and words
had been misinterpreted and that he is the victim of a broadly
conceived and systematically conducted smear campaign.
Sources in Rome close to Paetz and the investigation are divided,
with some saying the charges appear well-founded. At least four seminarians are
said to have given formal statements, describing instances in which Paetz
allegedly tried to pressure them into sexual contacts.
Among people in the know, it is taken for granted that he is
guilty, one source said.
Others, however, are unconvinced, suggesting the charges could be
a publicity stunt intended to discredit the church.
On Feb. 22, 43 Polish intellectuals in Kraków and Warsaw
signed a letter asking Paetz to step down until the situation is clarified.
The Rzeczpospolita report indicated that letters describing
the charges against Paetz were directed in early 2000 to the popes
private secretary, Polish Bishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, as well as Cardinal Joseph
Ratzinger, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Cardinal
Angelo Sodano, secretary of state.
In the end, according to the newspaper, it was 81-year-old Polish
psychiatrist Wanda Póltawska, a longtime friend of John Paul II, who
brought the matter to his attention.
According to Rzeczpospolita, a special commission came to
Poznan from the Vatican at the end of November 2001 to carry out an
investigation of Paetz. Two clergymen, members of a church tribunal, questioned
more than 40 witnesses in all; according to unofficial sources, most of them
confirmed the accusations.
Senior Polish bishops were set to arrive in Rome March 9, for a
previously scheduled event commemorating the 10th anniversary of the
restructuring of the Polish hierarchy. Vatican sources expect that Paetz will
be the leading topic of discussion in behind-closed-doors meetings with the
pope.
Paetz himself was not expected to attend.
Most sources in Rome expect that Paetz will face strong pressure
to resign, though some supporters in Poznan are organizing a committee for his
defense. Publicly, papal spokesman Joaquín Navarro-Valls on Feb. 24 said
only that the Vatican is following the topic with great attention and
responsibility in order to safeguard the rights of all.
John L. Allen Jr. is NCR Rome correspondent. His e-mail
address is jallen@natcath.org
National Catholic Reporter, March 15,
2002
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