By Dalson Chen
Windsor Star
March 9, 2010
http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Caring+priest+innocent+charges+supporters/2659676/story.html
CANADA -- Supporters of a Polish Catholic priest accused of sexual misdeeds are rallying behind the 84-year-old clergyman.
Rev. Piotr (Peter) Sanczenko of Windsor has been charged with two counts of indecent assault due to statements made by two males about incidents that allegedly happened around 40 years ago, when they were under 12 years old.
But people who knew Sanczenko as children say they don't believe the accusations.
 |
| Rev. Piotr Sanczenko had no comment after answering the front door at his residence on Langlois Avenue. Photo by Nick Brancaccio |
"It's absurd," said 31-year-old Grzegorz (Greg) Wolak. "He is a very sincere, very honest, caring man. I can't even imagine this man hurting anybody."
Wolak said he has known Sanczenko for more than two decades, and he was an altar server for many years under Sanczenko's guidance at Holy Trinity Roman Catholic church in Windsor. "I still keep in touch with him to this day."
Wolak noted Sanczenko was a teenager in Poland when the country was annexed by Nazi Germany, and Sanczenko is a survivor of the concentration camps.
After the allegations came to light, Wolak created a Facebook group entitled "Father Piotr Sanczenko is innocent." The group has attracted more than 250 members -- most of them young people raised in Windsor's Polish Catholic community.
Monika Ohl, a 20-year-old Polish-born nursing student, said she would not be in Canada if it weren't for Sanczenko's sponsorship of her immigrant family.
"Us, and many other families," Ohl said. "He has helped us a lot... Whether it be helping many people find jobs, or just (being) there praying with us."
Ohl said her two brothers were also altar servers at Holy Trinity. "They never had that impression that he could do something like (the allegations)," Ohl said.
"Now, it doesn't matter whether he's proven guilty or not, because his name has been tarnished worldwide. Not just Windsor, not just Chatham. There's been articles in Poland, on the radio, on the TV here. I think it's ridiculous."
Michal Brichacek, 22, another former altar server, described Sanczenko as a role model. "I personally think (the allegations) are totally false."
Brichacek said Sanczenko is still heavily involved in church activities. "A lot of stuff with young people, too. That's why you're hearing a lot of (support) from young people. He's always been very involved in the youth community... He has always been there for young people."
Paul Grzeszczak, a 35-year-old University of Windsor staff member, said he first met Sanczenko around 1990.
"I believe he is innocent. I don't think you're going to find one person in the community that will say otherwise," Grzeszczak said. "Personally, I think he was the best priest I've ever known. He was the kindest, gentlest man. I have nothing but good to say about him."
When visited by reporters at his Windsor residence, Sanczenko answered the door but declined to comment on his situation.
According to Chatham-Kent police, the statements of the two male victims in the case indicate the alleged sexual assaults took place when Sanczenko was serving Our Lady Victory Church in Chatham from 1963 to 1973.
Chatham-Kent police spokesman Const. Michael Pearce said no other people have come to police with accusations against Sanczenko.
Sanczenko's next court appearance in the case takes place May 4 in Chatham.
"Whatever we needed, he was there to help us," Ohl said. "So we're there to help him, during this hard time."
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.