The Archdiocese of Toronto confirmed that Fr. Wasik, who retired in 2013, has had his priestly faculties restored and is once again considered a priest in good standing
Newsroom (28/08/2025, Gaudium Press )The Office of the Crown Attorney has withdrawn all charges against Fr. Joseph Wasik, an 84-year-old retired priest of the Archdiocese of Toronto, stemming from allegations of sexual assault dating back to the early 1980s. The decision, announced on August 12, 2025, marks the end of a legal ordeal that began in December 2022, when Peel Regional Police charged Wasik with gross indecency and indecent assault on a male minor. The allegations related to his time as a parish priest at St. Martin of Tours Parish in Mississauga, Ontario, between 1980 and 1983.
The Archdiocese of Toronto confirmed that Fr. Wasik, who retired in 2013, has had his priestly faculties restored and is once again considered a priest in good standing. The archdiocese issued a statement expressing prayers for all those affected by the situation, acknowledging the pain caused by the allegations and the subsequent legal process.
Fr. Wasik’s tenure in the priesthood spanned nearly four decades, during which he served at multiple parishes in the Toronto area from 1974 to 2013. Notably, he founded Merciful Redeemer Parish in Mississauga in 1996. While specific details about the allegations remain limited, Peel Regional Police previously indicated that the charges were connected to Wasik’s ministry at St. Martin of Tours Parish on McBride Avenue in Mississauga. At the time of his arrest, authorities suggested there could be additional victims and urged anyone with information to contact the Special Victims Unit.
The withdrawal of charges has brought renewed attention to the challenges of addressing historical allegations within religious institutions. The Archdiocese of Toronto has not released further details about the case, but the restoration of Wasik’s faculties signals a resolution in the eyes of the Church. For now, the focus remains on healing for all those impacted by the allegations and the broader implications for the community.
- Raju Hasmukh
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