In particular, they highlighted the "disproportionate punishments" inflicted on bishops accused of cover-ups in comparison with convicted abusers.

Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki, president of the Polish bishops' conference, told Poland's Catholic Information Agency, KAI, that Polish bishops met with Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, at the Vatican Oct 12.

Gadecki said the bishops were trying to be faithful to Pope Francis' May 2019 motu proprio, "Vos Estis Lux Mundi". This revised and clarified norms and procedures for holding bishops and religious superiors accountable for protecting abusers.

"Our task is to work with the Holy Father in clearing up our church's current situation. This has undermined trust among certain people," Archbishop Gadecki told KAI after the meeting with Cardinal Ouellet.

"But critical remarks have been made about the Holy See's treatment of bishops who have had punishments imposed for shortcomings, transgressions or acts of forgetfulness in dealing with clergy accused of paedophilia.

Some (Polish bishops) highlighted the disproportionate, lasting penalties imposed on bishops after initial investigations, when paedophile criminals can leave prison after five years and begin a new life with a clean sheet."

"We're talking about the civil death of an accused member in the hierarchy who isn't a paedophile, who's removed from office, falls into infamy and is effectively annihilated by the media", Archbishop Gadecki told KAI.

"The cardinal was rather surprised by my words", Gadecki continued. "But he accepted we were not being aggressive toward the Holy See, just asking questions whether all of this conforms with the principle of proportionate guilt and punishment."

Ten mostly retired bishops have faced sanctions for ignoring abuse complaints in Poland, where allegations of past cover-ups are surfacing.

Archbishop Gadecki told KAI Cardinal Ouellet pledged to take account of the Polish bishops' criticisms when procedures set out in "Vos Estis Lux Mundi" were reviewed in 2022.

The archbishop said the aim of the review should be "not to release bishops from responsibility for their actions, but to reflect on a possible gradation of punishments."

Sources

Catholic News

Janiak's resignation follows accusations made in a documentary about his handling of two abuse cases.

The documentary "Playing Hide and Seek" was posted online in May this year. The film exposed two cases of pedophile priests that Janiak failed to take action against.

The film featured court testimony about Janiak's role in helping transfer one priest from Wroclaw to another diocese; something which happened even after a criminal investigation had begun.

The priest was subsequently convicted and defrocked.

The film also documented an alleged sex abuse cover-up relating to another priest during Janiak's time as Kalisz bishop, a position he held since 2012.

In June this year, Pope Francis ordered Janiak to leave Kalisz. He forbade the bishop from having any influence on how the diocese is run pending the investigation.

The film was the second focused on Polish clergy abuse to be made by brothers Tomasz and Marek Sekielski.

Their first film last year, "Tell No One," addressed clerical abuse in Poland. The film has been viewed almost 24 million times on YouTube.

The Polish bishops conference reported the news on its website on Saturday. It posted a statement from the Vatican ambassador to Poland simply saying that Janiak had resigned.

The statement noted the archbishop of Lodz, Grzegorz Rys would be the "apostolic administrator" of Kalisz until the position is permanently filled.

A spokesman for the Polish Bishops' Conference said: "It is understandable that such information arouses numerous social reactions and evokes emotions among the faithful. Currently, we are waiting for a reliable explanation of the media reports on this event, which — once again — should never take place, especially among the people of the Church."

Sources

• ABC News
• Catholic News Agency

"In line with its Gospel summons, the Catholic Church respects the dignity of every person without exception - Catholics in Poland and around the world have a right to the same respect", said Fr Pawel Rytel-Andrianik, the Conference spokesman. Read more

The bishops advice - delivered in a recent pastoral letter - was made both to mark Poland's centenary of independence and to warn the nation's Catholics that freedom could be lost again if Poles abandon their Catholic faith.

They explained independence is not just about "armed struggle, and political and diplomatic efforts" but also involves "resolute faith and prayer."

The bishops also noted love of homeland is a divine command and is expressed through "daily civic honesty, readiness to serve, and dedication to the common good.

"Our homeland's painful history should sensitize us to threats to the nation's spiritual freedom and sovereignty," the bishops' letter says.

These threats include the way Poland is being "morally and spiritually weakened" by what the bishops describe as: "a spreading captivity, especially among young Poles, from alcohol, drugs, pornography, internet threats, gambling, etc.

"Celebrating this anniversary impels us to reflect on Poland's current state and the dangers to its sovereign existence. The gravest of these arise from abandoning the Catholic faith and the Christian principles governing our national life and state's functioning. This has already led in the past to our republic's collapse.

"Among our national shortcomings, we increasingly witness the voice of private interests, individual and group egoism, lack of regard for the common good, and slander and abuse of the Catholic faith and Polish national traditions," the bishops said.

Source

• Catholic Herald
• Crux Now
• National Catholic Register