Poland: controversy over documentary detailing sexual abuse of priests

Three million views in one day. It was the impact that he had on

Poland

a documentary that
report cases of
pedophilia of
priests and who has generated the public apology from the

Church

from this country "for every injury inflicted."

"But do not tell anyone," the work done by journalists Tomasz and Mark Sekielski denounces the abuses committed by religious among dozens of testimonies of victims who were abused by priests in their childhood. In fact, the documentary tries to confront the victims with their attackers, whether they are elderly or infirm.

Among the accusations of the Sekielski brothers are pedophilia cases of Franciszek Cybula, Lech Walesa's confessor and chaplain between 1990 and 1995, when he was head of state. Cybula died last February, after granting the interview for the film.

Before the scandal, in a statement released on Saturday, the primate of Poland, Msgr. Wojciech Polak, wrote that the documentary causes "pain and shame" and "apologized" for every injury inflicted by the men of the day. Church".

Politics has also reacted to the controversy. The leader of the ruling National Conservative Law and Justice Party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, said his training was preparing changes to the penal code to strengthen the penalties for badual abuse of children.

"As expected, the sentences will go to 30 years in prison," said Kaczynski in the middle of the election campaign (the European elections will be held on May 26), according to information published by the newspaper
The world. Currently, badual badault on children under 15 is punishable in Poland up to 12 years in prison.

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

Francisco

He revealed Thursday a revision of canon law – legislation in force in the Catholic Church – now forcing priests and other religious to report to the church any suspicion of badual badault or harbadment, as well than the concealment of these acts by the hierarchy. clerical

Telam and AFP agencies