Will the Catholic Church leave its former papal nuncio 66-year old Josef Wesolowski to his fate? Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi hinted that the former head of the Roman Catholic Church in the Dominican Republic who is accused of sexually abusing minors could be extradited in his 25 August statement that confirmed that as Wesolowski’s diplomatic activity had ceased, so had his immunity.
Wesolowski served as nuncio to the Dominican Republic from 2008 until he was recalled in August 2013, shortly before investigative TV journalists broadcast reports that implicated him in acts of pedophilia.
He could be tried in the Dominican Republic or even in his home country, Poland.
On 27 June 2014, the Vatican issued a canonical court order that dismissed him from the clerical state depriving him of all rights and duties association with being a priest. Wesolowski can still appeal the canonical order.
Attorney General Francisco Dominguez Brito is not in favor of holding the case against Wesolowski here and instead has been cooperating with the Polish authorities.
Nevertheless, Zbigniew Nowsowski, editor and chief of the Catholic monthly Wiez, dismissed reports that the defrocked priest would be tried in Poland. “The crimes were committed in the Dominican Republic, not in Poland. That’s why he will not be tried here.”
Furthermore, a report in Poland’s largest newspaper, Gazeta Wyborszka says it is likely that the case will remain within the Vatican.
The National Catholic Reporter says that the article quoted Pawel Borecki of the Department of Religious Law at Warsaw University: “The Vatican will seek to ensure that this case does not go beyond its borders. Wesolowski is a high-ranking diplomat. He has knowledge of how the Roman curia works. He may also know about pedophilia in the church and if other high-ranking priests are involved in the crime. In a trial abroad he could reveal everything. Therefore, we can expect that the Vatican will not release him and it will hand down a severe punishment.”
http://ncronline.org/news/accountability/venue-debated-trial-former-nuncio-accused-abusing-minors