At left is Archbishop Henryk Gadecki, the head of Poland’s Episcopate. (Czarek Sokolowski, file/Associated Press)WARSAW, Poland — Contradicting claims by Poland’s ruling party leader, the head of Poland’s Catholic church says recent revelations about priests abusing minors are not attacks on the church but will help its cleansing. Aired Saturday, it has provoked a heated public debate and a soul-searching in the church, which traditionally enjoys respect in predominantly Catholic Poland. At a recent electoral campaign rally, the leader of Poland’s ruling conservative party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, said the church has been under attack lately from western values. Reacting to the film, Poland’s government and parliament have toughened the punishment for pedophilia, raising prison terms to 30 years from the current 12 years.

Source: Washington Post May 17, 2019 11:03 UTC