Andrzej Siemieniewski, the Bishop of Legnica, decided to restrict the ministry of Father Arkadiusz Śliwiński. The clergyman is listed on the website of the Cistercian Abbey in Krzeszów as a vicar of the Parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The istotne.pl editorial team received two screenshots showing excerpts from an internal message signed with the name of the chancellor of the Legnica Bishop's Curia, Father Piotr Kruczyk. Its contents indicate that the decisions concerning the clergyman were set out in a bishop’s decree dated October 19, 2026.
The restrictions concern hearing confessions, preaching and celebrating Mass
According to the message provided to the editorial team, the bishop withdrew Father Śliwiński’s authorization to hear confessions and preach the word of God. He also limited the possibility of celebrating the Eucharist to the territory of the clergyman’s family parish in Jeżów Sudecki.
The message identified disobedience and persistent avoidance of contact with the Bishop of Legnica, Curia employees and priests who undertook to mediate the talks as the reasons for the decision. These are the reasons presented in the internal communication. The editorial team does not have the text of the decree itself.
The message also included the bishop’s request for prayers for Father Arkadiusz and the other clergy of the diocese.
The Curia responds to istotne.pl’s questions
We asked the spokesperson for the Diocese of Legnica to confirm the restrictions, provide the specific reasons for imposing them and clarify whether the decision was potentially connected with the conflict surrounding the removal of Krzeszów parish priest Father Łukasz Langenfeld from his duties.
In a response sent to the editorial team on October 21, the spokesperson stated:
The restrictions concerning Father Śliwiński are related to disciplinary matters and remain in force until the case is clarified and the Bishop of Legnica decides on his further pastoral work; they are not related to the conflict surrounding the removal of Father Łukasz Langenfeld in Krzeszów.
The Curia thus confirmed that the clergyman was subject to restrictions, but did not address each of the prohibitions mentioned in the question separately. It also did not provide specific events underlying the decision or a date for clarifying the matter.
Another decision concerning a clergyman from Krzeszów
The information comes amid an ongoing dispute surrounding Father Łukasz Langenfeld, who was removed in September from performing his duties as parish priest in Krzeszów. Some parishioners protested in his defense, demanding explanations and the clergyman’s reinstatement.
The background to that case includes the issue of waste storage on the parish-owned Stara Cegielnia site. The Curia accused the parish priest of insufficient supervision of the property. Father Langenfeld challenged the diocese’s assessment of his actions and pointed out that he had taken steps to clarify the irregularities.
Both decisions concern clergymen associated with the same parish. However, the diocesan spokesperson categorically denies that the restrictions imposed on Father Śliwiński were connected with the conflict concerning the removed parish priest.
At this stage, the editorial team does not have a statement from Father Arkadiusz Śliwiński concerning the reasons for and circumstances of the bishop’s decision.