Tomasz and Marek Sekielsk's documentary "Playing Hide and Seek", went viral on YouTube after its release on Saturday.

The documentary overshadowed centenary of the birth of popular Polish Pope, John Paul II, that was celebrated this past weekend in Poland.

"Playing Hide and Seek" provides a detailed account of the story of two brothers sexually abused by a priest, tacitly protected by Janiak.

Within about 36 hours, YouTube records show the documentary had been viewed 27.5 million times and attracted over 45,000 comments.

Janiak, who is still practicing as a priest, has not commented directly on the allegations.

After seeing the documentary, Poland's most senior Catholic archbishop Wojciech Polak notified the Vatican of the accusations against the Polish bishop.

Polak's referral will test procedures introduced by the Vatican last year to hold to account bishops accused if they turn a blind eye to child sex abuse.

The Vatican is now expected to assign an investigator to the case.

Polak also broadcast a message saying the documentary "... shows that procedures concerning the standards of protection of children and youth have not been fulfilled."

"As a delegate of the Polish Episcopate for the protection of children and youth, I am requesting the Holy See, through its Nuncio, to start a procedure ordered by motu propio (an apostolic letter - editor's note) from Pope Francis on the omission of the activity required by law," he added.

The Kalisz curia has spoken out in Janiak's defence, saying the parents of one of the alleged victims portrayed in the film did not follow the right procedure.

"The recording in the film doesn't show the whole conversation. It doesn't show the part where we say that the parents should've expressed their concerns to the prosecutor immediately," the curia said in a statement.

Last year the Sekielski brothers released another film that suggested known paedophiles were deliberately shifted between parishes in Poland.

"Tell No One" had around 23.5 million hits on YouTube. It sent shock waves through the Catholic Church and prompted a series of reactions at the top of the ecclesiastical hierarchy.

However, the issue appears to have faded from public view since then.

Both films look at the issue of the responsibility of the Catholic hierarchy.

A third documentary is planned on the rôle of the Polish pope, St John Paul II covering up the crimes perpetrated by priests.

Source

• The Brussels Times
• Reuters
• Image: DW

The documentary includes harrowing testimonies from victims and has been viewed more than 18 million times.

Convicted paedophiles could now face up to 30 years or even life in prison.

Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favour of the longer sentences which will not only permanently incarcerate dangerous paedophiles but also remove a statute of limitations on prosecuting the most drastic cases of child sex abuse.

The changes were introduced by the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) government, which is closely allied with the Church in the devoutly Catholic country.

The ruling Law and Justice party says the legal amendments have been in the works for months and the proposal will now go to the senate.

The proposed amendments were introduced just 10 days ahead of the election race for the European Parliament.

The PiS is currently polling neck-and-neck with the European Coalition, a collective of opposition parties.

Poland's prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki says it is the government's "strong conviction" that suspended sentences should not apply in cases of paedophilia.

"It is difficult to imagine a more serious offence than the betrayal of the trust of the youngest people, those placed under someone's protection.

"Therefore, people, who are guardians in various institutions, including all secular and Church institutions, all such persons will have to bear even more severe penalties."

The documentary "Only Don't Tell Anyone" by brothers Tomasz and Marek Sekielski has been viewed nearly 18 million times since it was posted on YouTube on Saturday.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Poland, Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, has expressed "the closeness and solidarity of the Holy Father towards victims of abuse,".

Archbishop Charles Scicluna, who is the Adjunct Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, will visit Poland in June at the request of the Polish Bishops.

It includes secret camera footage of victims confronting priests about their alleged abuse. Some of the priests admit to the abuse.

Police have prevented the documentary from being projected on to the façade of churches in Warsaw and Gdansk.

Source

• Vatican News
• European Views
• BBC
• Image: DW