The chancellor of the curia, Fr., announced the decision of the Vatican dicastery on Friday in a message on the website of the Archdiocese of Lublin. Dr. Adam Jaszcz.
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, after reviewing the case files and making a comprehensive assessment, "recommended the Archbishop of Lublin to impose a penal order on the priest."
What does the ban imposed by the Vatican concern?
Fr. Puzewicz was ordered not to undertake any pastoral activity towards minors, in particular formation meetings, trips or other forms of pastoral work addressed to minors. Moreover, he may not establish or maintain voluntary contacts with minors, either directly or via electronic means or other means of distance communication. Violation of the ban will result in the priest being sentenced to suspension, i.e. a ban on performing all activities and functions related to the clerical state.
"According to the decision of the Holy See, it (penal order - editor's note) was issued for a period of six months. After this time, appropriate decisions will be made," the statement said. The Curia – as noted – will not comment on this matter.
Let us recall that in May last year the curia informed that Fr. Puzewicz no longer holds any diocesan functions and is prohibited from having contact with minors.
"Youth pastor wants a kiss"
The case concerns a well-known clergyman in Lublin who organizes help for former prisoners, the homeless and refugees, for which he has been awarded many times. In the past he was also, among others, diocesan youth pastor, director of Radio eR in Lublin, served as the press spokesman for the Metropolitan Archbishop of Lublin. Józef Życiński.
About cases of violating the personal integrity of young women by the priest. Puzewicza was written by "Gazeta Wyborcza" in the report "Youth pastor wants a kiss. Volunteers break the silence." The women quoted in the report mention, among other things, that the priest tried to kiss them, grab their breasts, and sent them text messages with sexual proposals.
The case was reported to the prosecutor's office in 2010 by a young woman who learned about the priest's reprehensible behavior towards one of the girls. An investigation was not initiated because the case did not involve a person under 15 years of age. The case files were destroyed because the legal retention period expired.
The then Metropolitan of Lublin, Archbishop Józef Życiński (died in February 2011), when he learned about the behavior of Fr. Puzewicz, dismissed him from all functions, including diocesan youth pastor. After some time, Fr. Puzewicz was appointed director of the Caritas Meeting House of the Archdiocese of Lublin in Dąbrowica near Lublin, as well as director of the diocesan radio station - Radio eR.
Last year, one of the injured women, living in Canada, reported the case to the Lublin curia. The deacon from the local parish persuaded her to do so when she told her about her relationship with Fr. Puzewicz during conversations when she was preparing for the sacrament of marriage.
Fr. Jaszcz informed PAP that the preliminary investigation into this case was started in October 2024 and closed on December 20.
"We listened to the testimonies of people with knowledge of this matter, as well as the accused priest. All documents were forwarded to the Holy See," added Fr. Waggon.
Fr.'s apology Puzewicz
The priest apologized for his behavior in a statement published on the website of the Catholic Information Agency. He wrote, among other things, that articles about his behavior from 15-20 years ago cited cases of his "deeply inappropriate behavior towards several girls and women, including violating their bodily integrity."
I am aware that some of my words and behaviors could and have hurt these young people and have caused damage to their psyche. I did not act with the intention of harming anyone, but I exceeded the boundaries that should be maintained in the relationship between a pastor and young people. I want to sincerely apologize to these people and their loved ones for my actions. I regret that this happened. I am determined to meet each of these people - if they agree - in person and apologize, he wrote.
He declared that he had undertaken "internal penance", the external sign of which would be the center for homeless youth he created and financed, to be managed by the Archdiocese of Lublin. "I have been serving the poor, homeless and prisoners for almost 25 years. Among them, more and more often, there are young, adult people who need long and comprehensive support. The above-mentioned center will be dedicated to them," he added.
Fr. Puzewicz also apologized to everyone affected by this case, "especially hundreds of young people involved in helping people in need." He thanked "for all the words of well-deserved criticism" that came his way, which - as he wrote - teach him humility.
