Polish Cardinal (Age 97) Found Guilty of Abuse After Vatican Investigation and is Given Severe Disciplinary Penalty by the Holy See

Vatican imposes severe disciplinary punishment on Polish Cardinal , 97-year-old loses the right to use the bishop's insignia and to be buried in Wrocław Cathedral, is no longer allowed to celebrate public services. Polish Archbishop Emeritus Hendryk Cardinal Gulbinowicz. He is no longer allowed to appear in public and no longer celebrate public services. This is announced by the Apostolic Nunciature in Warsaw in a communiqué. 

 The cardinal must make an "appropriate contribution" to the St. Józef Foundation, which was "established by the Polish Bishops' Conference to support the activities of the Church in favor of victims of sexual abuse" , The Holy See, after having carried out an investigation, has imposed disciplinary sanctions on Polish Cardinal Henryk Gulbinowicz for abuse of minors and other crimes. 

Vatican News reported that, in a statement issued at 12 noon on Friday, the Apostolic Nunciature in Poland announced that Cardinal Henryk Gulbinowicz, one of the oldest cardinals in the country, has been subjected to penal measures on account of abuse of minors. The Archbishop emeritus of the Archdiocese of Wrocław has been accused of harassment, homosexual acts, and collaboration with the security service of the time. Penalties imposed The statement issued by the Nunciature says that “following the investigation into the accusations made against Cardinal Henryk Gulbinowicz, and after analysing other accusations concerning the Cardinal’s past, the Holy See has taken the following disciplinary decisions against him: [the Cardinal] is forbidden from participating in any public celebration or meeting; forbidden from using episcopal insignia; and prohibited from the funeral service and burial in the cathedral.” Also, Cardinal Gulbinowicz will be required to pay “an adequate sum of money in the form of a donation for the activities of the St Joseph Foundation, established by the Polish Bishops’ Conference for victims of sexual abuse, their psychological assistance, prevention [of abuse] and the education of those responsible for the protection of minors." 

 The Archdiocese of Wrocław responded in a statement with clear words. The Archdiocese literally writes: “The announcement of the Apostolic Nunciature in relation to Father Henryk Cardinal Gulbinowicz is painful for us as a Church in Wroclaw, as it shows that in the past some people were seriously injured by the clergyman who ran our diocese. These people deserve the words "I'm sorry". We express our respect for them and declare our readiness for support and help.