Sunday, June 20, 2010

Poznan archbishop resigns after Vatican absolves Paetz?

Unconfirmed reports suggest that the archbishop of Poznan, Stanislaw Gadecki has resigned after the Vatican absolved his predecessor Juliusz Paetz, accused of sexually molesting seminarians at his diocesan in 2002.

“The news that the Metropolitan has resigned is circulating among priests,” an anonymous source has told the Gazeta Wyborcza daily.

It was reported yesterday that against the wishes of some leading figures in Poland’s Roman Catholic church, the Vatican has revoked a ban imposed on Archbishop Juliusz Paetz from leading religious ceremonies.

Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki is thought to have resigned his post in protest against reinstating Paetz’s right to take part in religious ceremonies, which he now can resume, under the supervision of the bishop’s diocese in Poznan, western Poland.

Juliusz Paetz was accused of sexually molesting seminarians in 2002, though he has always maintained his innocence and no criminal charges ever resulted from the allegations.

Archbishop Gadecki’s resignation has yet to be confirmed by other media outlets.

SIC: PRDZ