Cardinal Dziwisz failed to appear in court in sexual abuse case brought by altar boy
Former Kraków metropolitan Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz did not appear in response to a court summons in proceedings where a former altar boy is seeking 20 million złoty in compensation from the Curia for years of abuse by a paedophile priest.
Cardinal Dziwisz failed to appear in court in sexual abuse case brought by altar boy
On Wednesday, a hearing was scheduled before the Kraków district court in which Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz was to be questioned as a witness. The former Kraków metropolitan, however, did not appear at the proceedings. The case concerns a civil suit filed by Janusz Szymik against the Kraków Archdiocese.
The injured party is seeking 20 million złoty from the church institution as compensation for harm suffered in childhood. The man claims that for years he was a victim of sexual abuse by Father Jan Wodniak, who served in a parish in Międzybrodzie Bialskie.
Szymik filed the lawsuit in court in 2021. In his view, church superiors, including Cardinal Dziwisz himself, knew about Wodniak's scandalous conduct but took no steps in the matter. The clergyman eventually admitted guilt; however, the victim believes that the church hierarchy bears responsibility for failing to respond to signals reported over the years.
It is worth noting that this is not the only proceeding concerning abuse of minors in which the name of the former metropolitan appears. Earlier, another man sued the Kraków Curia for one million złoty in damages, citing similar circumstances.
Source: Wiadomości Onet
Source: Onet