Minister calls for public sex offenders register after priest charges

LRT reports that Justice Minister Rita Tamašunienė has called for renewed efforts to establish a public register of sex offenders after prosecutors brought charges against two priests over alleged sexual crimes against children.

The minister said such a register would strengthen monitoring and prevention measures. According to law enforcement authorities, the two cases involve 34 offences allegedly committed over 23 years.

Justice Vice-Minister Kristina Zamarytė-Sakavičienė said the register would make information about people convicted of sexual offences public, helping prevent crime and protect children and other victims.

Both cases have been referred to court. One of the accused priests worked for nine years at Kalesninkai church and previously served in Šalčininkai, Rūdiškės and Paluknys. Seimas member Jaroslavas Narkevičius said he had met the priest once or twice a year at various events and had noticed nothing unusual.

“Nothing was noticed, and this shows how that double life was revealed,” Narkevičius said, adding that he felt sorry for the victims.

Some politicians support creating a public register but say safeguards would be needed. Narkevičius warned that, particularly in smaller communities, publishing information could make it easy to identify victims and expose them to further harm.

Remigijus Žemaitaitis, leader of the Seimas Nemunas Dawn faction, said lawmakers would have to decide when and to what extent information could be published.

Lithuania already has a non-public Register of Suspects, Defendants and Convicted Persons, which also contains information about sexual offences. Seimas member Julius Sabatauskas said a separate register might not be necessary and that a dedicated section or sub-register could be created within the existing system.

Some opposition politicians said a register would address the consequences rather than prevent the crimes themselves. They called for greater support for victims and more willingness to believe children, women and other vulnerable people who report abuse.

Politicians also said no legislation could completely prevent such offences and stressed the need for stronger internal controls within the Catholic Church. They said that allegations should lead to immediate suspension rather than the transfer of a priest to another position.

The Vatican has also responded to the scandal involving Lithuanian priests. The Vatican nunciature told LRT journalists that the Holy See had been informed about the alleged abuse case and expressed sympathy for the victims and their families.