The commission for pedophiles in the Church will work for 3 years with the possibility of extension, announced Bishop Sławomir Oder. Archbishop Wojciech Polak will present the candidate for its chairman to the bishops. It will not include, among others: members of the Polish Episcopal Conference, journalists or injured people.
During the 404th Plenary Meeting of the Polish Episcopal Conference, which ended on Thursday, the bishops signed three documents regarding the “Commission of independent experts to investigate the phenomenon of sexual abuse of minors in the Catholic Church in Poland.”
– The first is an agreement between the Polish Episcopal Conference and the Conferences of Major Superiors of Men's and Women's Religious Orders in Poland. The second is the rules of operation of the commission, and the third document is the statute regulating the functioning of the commission, said Bishop Sławomir Oder during Thursday's press conference after the meeting.
According to the documents, the main goal of the Commission is to “investigate the extent and characteristics of the phenomenon of abuse of minors in the Church in Poland, taking into account the changing legal, social and historical context, and to listen to those harmed.”
It was emphasized that the Commission “does not have an investigative character and does not replace judicial authorities.” “If a person suspects that a crime has been committed, he or she is to notify the appropriate state and church authorities in accordance with the provisions of the law,” the document reads.
It was indicated that the composition of the Commission should be autonomously proposed by the Chairman of the Commission. “The latter, in turn, should be appointed by the KEP after obtaining the approval of the Permanent Council of the KEP and KWPZM and KWPŻZZ (Conference of Major Superiors of Men's Religious Congregations and Conference of Major Superiors of Women's Religious Congregations – PAP), with a view to ensuring that the person of the chairman allows for a real, justified and common belief that he will be able to achieve the goals of the Commission in an impartial manner.” and honest.”
The candidate for its chairman will be presented by Archbishop Wojciech Polak – it was announced during the conference after the Plenary Meeting.
The Primate of Poland assured that he would find the right person “as soon as possible.” However, he noted that he would not make any promises because it would require searching and talks. He stipulated that this position could be held by both men and women.
He mentioned that expert teams would be able to cooperate with the Commission.
It may cooperate with, among others: the Institute of National Remembrance, the State Commission for Counteracting the Sexual Abuse of Minors under 15, the Ombudsman for Children, law enforcement and justice authorities, non-governmental organizations and institutions dealing with the phenomenon of sexual abuse of minors, whose principles of operation do not contradict Christian ideas – the documents indicate.
The agreement between the Polish Episcopal Conference, the Conference of Major Superiors of Men's Religious Congregations in Poland and the Conference of Major Superiors of Women's Religious Congregations in Poland regarding the establishment of the Commission states that “it should be financed as part of the statutory activities of the Saint Joseph Foundation of the Polish Episcopal Conference (…) in a manner that does not violate the independence of the Commission.”
“Detailed solutions regarding the financing of the Commission's activities, the flow of funds and the method of their settlement will be agreed in the agreement concluded between the Commission and the Saint Joseph Foundation of the Polish Episcopal Conference,” we read in the agreement.
Bishop Oder informed that the Commission will work for three years with a possible extension if circumstances require. The scope of her research will cover the years 1945-2026. – From 1945 to the date of establishment of the Commission, i.e. to March 11 this year. – said Bishop Oder.
The documents state that “The Commission should consist of people with various competences, with skills – optimally scientific – historical, legal, psychological or sexological, as well as sociological and theological, and with experience in working with victims.
However, it cannot include “members of the KEP, KWPZM, KWPŻZZ and persons who, for any reason, could be exposed to a conflict of interest, including persons against whom there has been a formal or public credible allegation of sexual abuse, persons harmed by sexual abuse in the Church and journalists.”
The bishops made the decision to start work on establishing the Commission at the 394th Plenary Meeting of the Polish Bishops' Conference, which took place in March 2023. The principles of its operation were developed by a team led by Archbishop Wojciech Polak. The legal details were clarified by the team appointed in June 2025, led by Bishop. Sławomir Oder. In the meantime, a diocesan commission was established in the Archdiocese of Łódź. In turn, on February 12 this year The Commission for Clarification and Repair of Sensitive Matters of the Sosnowiec Diocese presented the first part of the report on the sexual abuse of minors in the diocese. This body was established after sex scandals involving clergy that received wide coverage in the media.
If the Episcopate did not decide to establish a nationwide Commission, the metropolitans of Częstochowa, Krakow and Wrocław announced the appointment of diocesan commissions. (PAP)
mgw/ thatzu/ mark/
