Former altar boy sues Kraków curia. "What's the difference whether a priest rapes brutally or not"
Janusz Szymik, a former altar boy, has filed a lawsuit against the Kraków curia, seeking compensation for paedophilic acts committed by a priest. The case began before the Regional Court in Kraków.
Former altar boy sues Kraków curia. "What's the difference whether a priest rapes brutally or not"
A civil lawsuit filed by former altar boy Janusz Szymik against the Kraków metropolitan curia began before the Regional Court in Kraków. The man is demanding compensation from the Church for paedophilic acts allegedly committed against him by a priest. The case concerns events from years past.
The plaintiff's lawyer, Jarosław Głuchowski, told Onet in an interview that he is concerned the defending party will direct its defence strategy towards questioning the nature of the crime. As he acknowledged, he suspects the curia's argument will be that what happened to his client "was not actually rape, because after all the priest did not use violence against him". The lawyer commented sharply on such a possibility: "I beg your pardon, but what's the difference whether a priest rapes a child brutally or without brutality?"
The case is being conducted in civil proceedings, which means that Janusz Szymik is seeking material compensation from the Church institution. His representative emphasises that the curia may attempt to reduce its liability by questioning the very classification of the act.
This case fits into a broader context of revelations about the sexual abuse of minors by clergy in Poland and an increasing number of civil lawsuits filed against Church institutions.
Source: Onet
Source: Onet