Pope removes priest accused of child sex offences from clergy

Pope Francis has accepted the request of priest Tadas Švedavičius to be removed from the clerical state while he faces accusations of crimes against children, LRT reported.

The Vilnius Archdiocese said the decision strips Švedavičius of clerical status and church authority and bars him from priestly ministry. He can no longer celebrate Mass or administer sacraments that require priestly ordination, except for absolving a person in danger of death. The decision does not end the criminal proceedings or exempt him from responsibility under state law.

Švedavičius had been suspended from his duties following allegations involving sexual abuse of children, possession of pornography and involving children in drinking. He requested dismissal from the priesthood through the Holy See and also accepted personal responsibility for compensating those harmed.

The announcement came on the eve of a second hearing in the case at the Vilnius Regional Court, scheduled for Thursday afternoon. Proceedings could not begin at the first hearing on September 24 because Švedavičius had hired a new lawyer, who was granted time to review the case. The indictment was therefore not read, and the defendant’s position was not heard.

The prosecutor’s office announced in August that it had referred the case to court. Prosecutor Egidijus Motiejūnas has asked anyone who may have been harmed by Švedavičius to contact the Vilnius Regional Prosecutor’s Office. He said the number of victims could change and that no new reports had been received as of Wednesday.

Motiejūnas said fear, young age, religious families and the priest’s authority had made it difficult for some victims to report the alleged conduct promptly. Švedavičius faces claims for damages ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of euros. The article says defendants in cases of this kind generally face an actual prison sentence of about 10 years, the midpoint of the penalty provided by law.

The archdiocese urged people to report crimes against children to law enforcement. Anyone who has experienced sexual abuse or other inappropriate conduct in a church setting, or has information about such cases, can contact its service for listening to people who have experienced abuse at [email protected]. The archdiocese said its next safe-environment training session is scheduled for October 27 in Vilnius.