Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of a Polish bishop whose diocese was rocked by reports of a gay orgy organized by a priest in his diocese in his home, as well as previous incidents of violence involving his clergy. The Vatican has not explained the reason for Grzegorz Kaszak’s resignation as head of the Sosnowiec diocese in southwestern Poland, we read in the Guardian.
One of the priests was investigated for allegedly organizing an orgy involving a prostitute in his apartment in Dąbrowa Górnicza. Polish media reported that one of the sex party participants collapsed after an overdose of sexual enhancers. The prosecutor said the priest is suspected of “failing to assist a person whose life is in danger” because he allegedly tried to prevent paramedics from entering the apartment.
However, this was not the first incident involving the clergy of this diocese. In March 2023, the body of a 26-year-old deacon was found with injuries consistent with murder. Local prosecutors said he was killed by a 40-year-old priest who then committed suicide.
In a statement Tuesday, Kaszak said he had asked the pope to let him resign in a Sept. 29 letter. He thanked the priests and nuns of his diocese and asked “everyone to forgive me for my human limitations.”
The diocese, which identified the priest involved in the alleged orgy as Tomasz Z., largely confirmed media reports and said an external investigative commission had concluded that the priest committed “a very serious violation of moral norms” and his duties as a clergyman have .
Kaszak relieved the priest of all duties on September 21 and initiated an internal canonical process.