World Youth Day priest removed after reportedly fathering child

VATICAN CITY
Washington Post

By Rosie Scammell | Religion News Service October 13

VATICAN CITY — A Polish priest has been stripped of his duties after reportedly fathering a child with a woman he met while working as spokesman for the upcoming World Youth Day in Krakow.

Tomasz Kijowski, a member of the Salesian order, has been banned from performing his duties and wearing his clerical robes or collar.

A Vatican representative was not immediately available to comment on whether the Polish priest would also be defrocked.

The priest reportedly admitted his relationship with a woman in June, but the case has only just come to light in Polish media.

Andrzej Golebiowski, spokesman for the Krakow Salesians, said the process of formally expelling Kijowski from the order is underway. “The reason for this situation is that he has fathered a child,” he was quoted in Inside Poland as saying.

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