Former Nuncio Wesolowski Reduced to Lay State Following Paedophilia Accusations

Vatican Insider
June 27, 2014

http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/the-vatican/detail/articolo/wesolowski-34944/


The former Apostolic Nuncio of the Dominican Republic, Mgr. Josef Wesolowski has been reduced to the pay state in the first stage of his canonical trial. The Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith is verifying his case. The Holy See press office issued a statement today informing that the sentence had been passed. The 66-year-old Polish archbishop had been Nuncio in Santo Domingo since 2008 and had begun his diplomatic career during John Paul II’s pontificate. Pope Francis relieved him of his duties about a year ago, after the archbishop was accused of acts of paedophilia in the Dominican Republic.

Wesolowski now has two months to present an appeal if he wishes to; Vatican criminal proceedings will begin once the canonical sentence is definitive.

The Vatican pointed out that “until now Msgr. Wesolowski has been granted relative freedom of movement, as he awaits the verification by the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith of the basis of these accusations made against him” and that “considering the sentence passed by the aforementioned dicastery, all the necessary procedures will be adopted in relation to the former nuncio, in conformity with the gravity of the case.”

After being granted “relative freedom of movement” while the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith verified the paedophilia accusations made against him, the former Apostolic Nuncio of Santo Domingo, Mgr. Jozef Wesolowski now risks arrest or restricted freedom.

The Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi explained that “measures will be taken to ensure he resides in a specific place with restrictions and that he does not have any freedom of movement because he has been charged with a very serious offence and is awaiting further legal proceedings.”

The former Nuncio was recalled to the Vatican last summer, just a few weeks after the Archbishop of Santo Domingo, Cardinal Nicolas Lopez Rodriguez, reported the accusations of paedophilia against the Polish archbishop, directly to the Pope. This happened in mid-July, just before Francis’ trip to Brazil. The Secretariat of State intervened quickly, as early as the start of August: Wesolowski was recalled to Rome, relieved of his duties and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith launched an investigation into the case.

Again in August, the Secretariat of State sent a message via the Holy See’s ambassador in the Dominical Republic, announcing its intention to co-operate with the Dominican authorities. “The recall of the nuncio is in no way an attempt to help him avoid responsibility for whatever is eventually ascertained," the spokesman said.

The scandal Wesolowski was involved in erupted after accusations were made against him by a journalist from Santo Domingo. In an inquiry broadcast on a private television channel, said journalist claimed that the prelate paid to have sex with minors and frequently visited a part of Santo Domingo that is renowned for child prostitution.