A Catholic Archbishop Defrocked And Asked To Face Charges Over Sexual Abuse Of Minors

Jozef Wesolowski, an Archbishop who had been defrocked, last year became the first person to be arrested inside the Vatican on paedophilia charges.

In an unprecedented move personally sanctioned by Pope Francis, Polish cleric Jozef Wesolowski has been placed under house arrest pending the outcome of criminal proceedings launched by the authorities.
Wesolowski, 65, was defrocked in June after a Church tribunal found that he abused minors during his 2008-13 stint as the Vatican’s ambassador to the Dominican Republic.


Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said Wednesday Wesolowski had been charged on two counts: sexual abuse of minors and possession of child pornography.

Briefing reporters, the spokesman added that he expected the criminal investigation to be concluded early next year, clearing the way for the first sex abuse trial to take place within the walls of the Holy See.

If convicted, Wesolowski faces up to seven years in prison, possibly longer if there were aggravating circumstances, Lombardi said.
Pope Francis has also accepted the resignation of two US bishops for failing to respond appropriately to allegations of sex abuse against a priest in the diocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, the Vatican announced on Monday.
Archbishop John Clayton Nienstedt and Auxiliary Bishop Lee Anthony Piche resigned after the diocese was charged by US authorities of failing to protect minors in relation to a parish priest who was jailed for child abuse.

US prosecutors laid criminal charges against the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis earlier this month for its failure to protect children from sexual abuse at the hands of a priest.