Archbishop Adrian Galbas of Warsaw Poland has urgently requested the Vatican to laicize a priest accused of the brutal murder of a homeless man.
Newsroom (29/07/2025, Gaudium Press ) Archbishop Adrian Galbas of Warsaw Poland has urgently requested the Vatican to laicize a priest accused of the brutal murder of a homeless man, citing the “gravity of the crime and the great public outrage” in a July 26 statement from the Archdiocese of Warsaw. The move follows the arrest and confession of Father Miroslaw M., identified under Polish privacy laws, who faces charges of “murder with particular cruelty” that could lead to a sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
The archdiocese’s statement invokes Canon 1397 of the Code of Canon Law, which mandates dismissal from the clerical state for a cleric who commits homicide. “Due to the severity of the act, Archbishop Galbas has immediately requested the Holy See to impose the highest penalty provided for in canon law: dismissal from the priesthood,” the statement read. The Church has pledged full cooperation with Polish authorities to clarify the circumstances of the crime and awaits a “just and appropriate punishment” from the state court.
According to Aneta Góźdź, spokeswoman for the Radom District Prosecutor’s Office, the incident occurred on the night of July 24, when Father Miroslaw M. and the victim, 68-year-old Anatol Cz., were in a car together. The two reportedly argued over an agreement in which the priest had promised assistance to the homeless man. During the altercation, the priest allegedly struck the victim in the head with an axe and set him on fire. An autopsy revealed the victim suffered burns over 80% of his body and severe head injuries caused by a sharp, heavy object.
Father Miroslaw M. was removed as pastor of the parish in the village of Przypki on July 25, the archdiocese confirmed. The German Bishops’ Conference news site reported that the priest has confessed to the crime following his arrest by Polish police.
In a deeply emotional statement on July 25, Archbishop Galbas expressed his devastation, saying, “I am devastated by the news that one of my priests brutally murdered a poor, homeless man. I have no answer to any question that begins with ‘why?’” He called for personal penance and prayer across the archdiocese, urging priests to begin atonement immediately and for all parishes to hold prayers after every Mass the following Sunday. “The blood of our murdered brother cries out to God. Let us beg God for forgiveness and let us beg for the forgiveness of others. I myself beg for this,” he said.
The archbishop also acknowledged his moral responsibility for the actions within his diocese, stating, “As the local archbishop, I feel morally responsible for everything that happens in this Church — both good and the bad. Including this terrible crime. I apologize.” He requested prayers for the victim, Anatol Cz., and his loved ones, reiterating the Church’s commitment to assisting authorities in the investigation.
The case has sent shockwaves through Poland, raising questions about accountability within the Church and the mechanisms for addressing such grave offenses. As the legal process unfolds, the Archdiocese of Warsaw remains under scrutiny, with the Vatican’s response to the laicization request closely watched by both the faithful and the public.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA
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