SPRINGFIELD (IL)
WTAX Newsradio/Capitol City Now [Springfield IL]
November 21, 2024
By Jane Cochran
A letter issued to parishioners at three central Illinois churches by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki with the Diocese of Springfield details the reasons behind a Taylorville priest’s resignation. In the letter dated Nov. 17, Paprocki states Father Piotr Kosk resigned amid revelations of a years-long sexual relationship and illegal drug use with Deacon Stefan Kaniewski, a seminarian with the diocese.
Both men acknowledged their actions were incompatible with their responsibilities in the church, and Kaniewski has requested to leave his clerical duties, according to Paprocki. Prior to accepting Kosk’s resignation, the bishop initiated an investigation to look into the matter as well as possible financial misconduct. “Based on the gravity and nature of the preliminary findings and the respective responses of Deacon Kaniewski and Father Kosk after being confronted with the findings, this canonical process will likely lead to strict penalties and sanctions as well as my petition to the Holy See for Father Kosk’ s dismissal from the clerical state.”
The relationship, according to Paprocki’s letter, began shortly after Father Kosk was ordained to the priesthood and while Deacon Kaniewski was not yet ordained to the transitional diaconate.
In addition to St. Mary’s in Taylorville, Kosk was the pastor for St. Rita’s in Kincaid and Holy Trinity in Stonington as well as the chaplain at Taylorville Correctional Center. Paprocki said Father John Burnette will lead the churches while the diocese works to assign a permanent pastor.