Church courts weigh sanctions against priests accused of crimes against children

LRT reports that two Lithuanian priests accused of crimes against children are facing parallel proceedings under state law and the Catholic Church’s canon law. The Vilnius Archdiocesan Curia has suspended both priests from their duties and launched canonical investigations after prosecutors referred the cases to court.

In one case, priest Tadas Švedavičius is accused of 34 sexual offences against minors allegedly committed between 2002 and 2025. The case involves 11 alleged victims aged between 12 and 18.

Vilnius Archbishop Gintaras Grušas said Švedavičius admitted his guilt during the pretrial investigation, although not immediately. The priest has also said he wants to be dismissed from the priesthood.

In the second case, priest Ryšardas Peciunas and his acquaintance Barbara Leščevska are accused of possessing pornographic material depicting children. Both deny the charges, saying the material consisted of ordinary household images shared among friends.

The criminal proceedings are being conducted under Lithuanian law, with imprisonment the most severe possible punishment. Under canon law, however, a priest may be removed from the clerical state or face other sanctions, including a temporary or permanent ban on performing priestly duties.

How the church proceedings work

“Lithuania has its own criminal law, and the Church has its own criminal law,” said priest Virginijus Veprauskas, pastor of St Anne’s Parish in Karmėlava and a licentiate in canon law.

Church and state courts can reach different conclusions because their rules differ. For example, an intimate relationship between a priest and a woman may constitute a violation under canon law and lead to sanctions, while it is not a crime under state law if there was no coercion or abuse of a person’s helpless condition.

When information emerges about a possible offence by a cleric against a minor, the bishop is required to inform the Holy See immediately, said priest Romualdas Zdanys, pastor of the Parish of Saints Peter and Paul in Panevėžys and president of the Panevėžys diocesan church tribunal.

The Holy See has jurisdiction over cases involving clerics accused of crimes against children, specifically through the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is also responsible for interpreting and safeguarding Catholic doctrine.

Church tribunals sometimes wait for state court decisions because they lack investigative tools such as fingerprint checks and telephone tapping. The proceedings nevertheless take place alongside the criminal process under Lithuanian law.

Rules governing sexual offences against minors were tightened during the pontificate of Pope Francis. The most serious offence, sexual assault of a minor, carries a possible prison sentence of up to 15 years under state law.