Legnica Bishop Zbigniew Kiernikowski announced at the end of May that he had submitted his resignation. “Because the date when I reach retirement age is approaching, I have already submitted to the Holy Father Francis my resignation from my episcopal ministry in the Diocese of Legnica. I hope that soon we will see the announcement of a new ordinary of the Diocese of Legnica, and I trust that his prompt assumption of the Diocese will make it easier for all of us to fulfill our priestly ministry,” wrote Zbigniew Kiernikowski in a document concerning personnel changes in the diocese.
Wrocław’s “Gazeta Wyborcza” wrote that the resignation had already been accepted:
Legnica Bishop Zbigniew Kiernikowski submitted his resignation, which was accepted by Pope Francis. In the past, the bishop covered for abusive priests, which was reportedly a factor in his departure.
Meanwhile, on tvn24.pl, we read:
In its Tuesday article, “Gazeta Wyborcza” recalled the case of Paweł from Łuków, reported in 2019, who was sexually abused in hospital by chaplain Stanisław B., as well as Bishop Kiernikowski’s response. “The chaplain looked around the room, [...] walked up to me and said: ‘You must be missing physical contact with a girl.’ After saying this, he put his hand into my pajama bottoms and began masturbating me. I could not defend myself because my hands were immobilized and I had drains in my abdomen. I did not have the strength to scream. After roughly a minute, he said that the girl should finish the rest. He washed his hands in the sink nearby and, as if nothing had happened, went to distribute Holy Communion,” Paweł recounted.
The court later sentenced the aforementioned chaplain to two years in prison. The curia’s explanations at the time (quoted after tvn24.pl):
By decree dated July 1, 2010, Bishop Zbigniew Kiernikowski transferred Father Stanisław B. from the Parish of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Łuków to the Parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Radzyń Podlaski. The relevant documents were not preserved in the archives of the Siedlce Diocesan Curia, and Bishop Zbigniew Kiernikowski, who held office in Siedlce until May 2014, did not provide his successor, Bishop Gurda, with the reasons for this decision.
The daily “Gazeta Wyborcza” also recalled a 2004 case, writing that female students were abused during religion classes in the Diocese of Siedlce. The perpetrator turned out to be Zbigniew Sz., the parish priest of the village of Połoski. According to GW, Bishop Kiernikowski vouched for the suspect, proposing “placing Father Zbigniew Sz. in a location where he would remain under the supervision of the bishop’s curia and be available to the prosecutor’s office and the court.” The court did not agree. Sz. was later sentenced to two years in prison. More at tvn24.pl.
“Submitting the resignation is related to a provision of canon law, and no ulterior motive should be sought here,” curia spokesperson Waldemar Wesołowski says.
Bishop Kiernikowski versus strongman priest Artur Kaproń
The Legnica bishop made headlines several years ago when TVN showed Father Artur Kaproń, the parish priest under his authority in Osiecznica, competing in the Polish bodybuilding championships, writes Gazeta Wyborcza. Like the other competitors, he appeared in briefs. The clergyman finished fourth there and... was summoned before Bishop Kiernikowski. He later had to apologize to his parishioners.
We reported on the case several times on istotne.pl, including in the articles See how the priest from Osiecznica wiggles his athletic buttocks and Bodybuilding priest apologizes for scandalizing the faithful.