Controversy in Poland for the broadcast of a documentary on sexual abuse against the Church

May 13, 2019

Filming reached three million views in one day. Given this, the Church is excused "for every injury inflicted".

The premiere of the documentary that reports cases of pedophilia of priests reaches three million views in one day. The filming titled "But do not tell anyone," was written by journalists Tomasz and Mark Sekielski. The church asked for a public apology "for every injury inflicted".

Among the victims is the testimony of a man who remembers how he was mistreated at the age of 12 by the priest Franciszek Cybula. He was Lech Walesa's confessor and chaplain between 1990 and 1995 while he was head of state. Cybula died last February, after granting the interview for the film.

Before the scandal Bishop Wojciech Polak wrote that the documentary provokes "pain and shame".

"I have been badually abused at the seminary", confession of a priest on television of the Catholic Church

In addition, the leader of the ruling party, the conservative nationalist force Law and Justice, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, said his training was preparing changes in the penal code to strengthen penalties for child badual abuse.

"As one would expect, the sentences will go to 30 years in prison," Kaczynski said during the election campaign. Currently, badual badault on children under 15 is punishable in Poland up to 12 years in prison.

For its part, Bishop Stanislaw Gadecki, president of the Polish bishops, claimed that the film "will be useful so that the Pope's indications on the prevention of pedophilia are even better respected from the priests ".

Pope Francis' strong demand against Church abuse: "Let's listen to the cry of the little ones who ask for justice"

Francisco announced Thursday a revision of canon law, which is the legislation in force in the Catholic Church, which requires priests and other religious to report to the church any suspicion of badual badault or harbadment as well as the concealment of these events. for the clerical hierarchy.

In turn, another controversial film debuted last October, "Kler" ("clergy"). He addressed the issues of Child abuse, relationships, corruption, greed and alcoholism within the Polish Catholic Church. Until now, it is the film that brings together the largest number of viewers in Poland since the beginning of the century.