Polish priest has been detained in Austria under accusations related to the country’s narcotics law, as confirmed by the spokesperson for the Metropolitan Archbishop of Warsaw and the Warsaw archdiocese, Fr. Przemysław Śliwiński.
The arrest, which took place on Wednesday in Waldviertel, Lower Austria, was first reported by the Austrian newspaper “Der Kurier”. According to the report, the clergyman, originally from the Warsaw archdiocese, is suspected of manufacturing and distributing hard drugs.
The diocese of St. Poelten, where the priest has been serving for three years, was quick to react, informing their responsible Archbishop who has promised to take further steps in response to the allegations.
In a statement to the Polish Press Agency, Fr. Śliwiński relayed that the Warsaw archdiocese had been informed of the incident by the St. Poelten diocese and that canonical legal actions will soon be initiated in cooperation with the latter. He noted, however, that the details reported by the media were not precise, suggesting a potential discrepancy in the information being circulated.
This case has stirred interest and concern within the religious communities in Poland and Austria, as it touches on sensitive issues of clergy conduct and legal compliance.