BishopAccountability.org
	Brazil Orders Polish Priest Arrested in Abuse Case By Stan Lehman The Associated Press May 20, 2010 http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i6T2FZuW588xFahgyr8KUJFK1TJAD9FREABG0 SAO PAULO — A judge in Brazil has ordered the arrest of a Polish priest suspected of sexually abusing a teenager in a Rio de Janeiro suburb. State prosecutors have accused 44-year-old Marcin Michael Strachanowski of handcuffing the 16-year-old former altar boy to a bed three years ago in the parish house where the priest lived and threatening to kill the youth if he spoke of the abuse. "I already know the flowers I will place on your coffin," Strachanowski warned, according to prosecutors. The Polish priest was suspended from his duties after the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro learned of the order for his arrest, said church spokesman Adionel Carlos da Cunha. He said in a statement that the archdiocese "expresses it regret over what happened, especially with the people involved and possible victims." The prosecutor's office said it did not know when Strachanowski arrived in Brazil nor if he had a lawyer. Police said Friday they had not located Strachanowski. Da Cunha said he did not have the name of the priest's lawyer. Judge Alexandre Abrahao Dias expressed concern that Strachanowski might try to flee Brazil, and said investigators found "erotic material sent to the victim via Internet to seduce him." He said the priest also took other youths to the parish house, "which he converted into a kind of erotic dungeon where he submitted them, often with the use of handcuffs, to orgies." Sex abuse scandals involving the Roman Catholic Church have mushroomed around the world recently, and some of the accused priests have surfaced in Brazil. Church officials declined to provide additional information about the Strachanowski, such as how long he has been in Brazil or his work history with the church. The priest also faces a canonical legal process by an ecclesiastical tribunal, a church statement said without providing more detail. Late last month, prosecutors charged the Rev. Jose Afonso with abusing altar boys ranging in ages from 12 to 16. Prosecutors said the alleged abuses took place in Franca, in Sao Paulo state. Also last month, 83-year-old Monsignor Luiz Marques Barbosa was detained in northeastern Brazil for allegedly abusing at least three boys after being caught on videotape having sex with a young man, a former altar boy. Barbosa is under house arrest while authorities investigate. Two other priests in the same archdiocese are also accused of abuses. The National Conference of Brazilian Bishops recently announced it would prepare a manual with guidelines to help bishops prevent child-abuse cases.
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