The parish priest from Ruszów has been accused of molesting two girls whom he was preparing for Holy Communion. Several dozen people appeared at the court in Zgorzelec. Among them were the priest’s parishioners, who did not believe their parish priest was guilty, as well as representatives of the Polish Women’s Strike. By their presence, the activists wanted to demonstrate support for the parents of the girls who were harmed.
The clergyman entered the courtroom singing the words of a psalm: “If you want to follow me, then take up your cross every day.” In court, the accused priest’s brother argued that it was former employees of the Polish People’s Republic Security Service who had targeted his brother, and that he was the injured party.
As reported by TVN’s “Fakty,” the girls testified consistently that the priest created situations in which he was alone with the children, then undressed them, kissed them and touched them in intimate places. Women who were already adults also testified against the parish priest; they were allegedly molested in exactly this way by Fr Piotr in the 1980s. However, these acts are time-barred.