After publishing the video “Who Is Adrian?”, we face a years-long court battle. We have proceedings in Jelenia Góra and Bolesławiec. You can help us in the legal fight with the priest and support us in writing articles about the bishop of Legnica and the problems faced by many parishioners throughout the diocese. Please support us with any amount. Here is the address where you can make a payment: zrzutka.pl/hb6dc7

The precedent-setting trial will begin first in Bolesławiec in February 2025. The priest is doing everything he can to silence the matter of the materials about him. This is an action known by the English name SLAPP—a lawsuit or other legal action intended to gag journalists.

There had long been widespread discussion of the former parish priest from Bolesławiec. He was considered a clergyman unfriendly toward people. In December 2023, a video report was created based on materials publicly shared on social media. We believe that the priest and a young celebrity sued the editor of istotne.pl in separate lawsuits before the court in Jelenia Góra precisely to block this film and remove it from the internet. They later brought two more criminal proceedings, this time in Bolesławiec. Because the two lawsuits were almost identical, the court in Bolesławiec joined the cases. Now the priest and the celebrity will sit side by side on the prosecutors’ bench.

Why is the priest suing journalists?

The clergyman is suing the journalists because they published materials that, in his view, defame him and expose him to a loss of public trust. This concerns several articles and a film that was available on YouTube. By court decision, the film may not currently be shown, but we are trying to make it publicly available again.

SLAPP—gagging the press

In our view, all lawsuits filed under the pretext of protecting one’s good name are nothing more than an attempt to intimidate and silence inconvenient voices. The aim is a chilling effect—that is, fear of the powerful Catholic Church. Potential whistleblowers begin to hesitate before taking up difficult subjects. After all, why expose yourself to a lawsuit that could determine your future? In short, the point is to keep society unaware. Until now, all those who went to the curia in Legnica to look after their parishes but left convinced that they meant nothing, that no one listened to them and that they were unimportant to the bishop, could turn to us, the journalists. This was the case with Father Pędziwiatr from Bolesławiec, Father Janusz Wilk from Gościszów and Father Łuczkowski from Lubomierz. It also concerned parishioners from Węgliniec who opposed transferring a priest to their town. However, when they took the matter to Bishop Siemieniewski, he showed them that they had nothing to say about it. If we, the journalists of istotne.pl, give in, episcopal arrogance will prevail. The humiliation of those without whom the Catholic Church would not exist will continue to take place in silence.

You can also support us in the courtroom as a trusted person

Contact us by email kg@istotne.pl if you would like to show us your support during the trial itself. Article 154 of the Code of Civil Procedure and Article 361 of the Code of Criminal Procedure grant several people the right to attend a court hearing held behind closed doors.

Code of Civil Procedure—Article 154. Admission to a hearing held behind closed doors
§ 1. During a hearing held behind closed doors, the following may be present in the courtroom: the parties, interveners, their legal representatives and attorneys, the prosecutor, and two trusted persons from each side.

Code of Criminal Procedure—Article 361. Participation of persons in a closed hearing
§ 1. If the proceedings are closed to the public, in addition to the persons participating in the proceedings, two persons designated by the public prosecutor, auxiliary prosecutor, private prosecutor and the accused may be present at the hearing. If there are several prosecutors or accused persons, each of them may request that one person remain in the courtroom.

A trusted person in court proceedings has a truly significant, though often underestimated, role to play. Anyone who is an adult and is designated by a party to the proceedings can become such a trusted observer of the hearing. They also provide invaluable support to the party that appoints them.

If you would like to support us in this way, contact us by email at kg@istotne.pl. We will answer every question, get to know each other and together determine whether this supporting role is suitable for both you and us.