Edward Janiak

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Mgr.

Edward Janiak
Bishop of Kalisz
Edward Janiak (2018; 2).jpg
Janiak in 2018
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
DioceseKalisz
In office2012 – 2020
Predecessor
SuccessorGrzegorz Ryś (administrator)
Orders
Ordination19 May 1979[1]
by 
Consecration30 November 1996[1]
by Henryk Gulbinowicz
RankArchbishop
Personal details
Born(1952-08-14)14 August 1952
Malczyce, Poland
Died23 September 2021(2021-09-23) (aged 69)
Wrocław, Poland
Previous post(s)Auxiliary Bishop of Wrocław
Titular Bishop of Scillium
MottoOportet servire
Coat of armsEdward Janiak's coat of arms

Edward Janiak (14 August 1952 – 23 September 2021) was a Polish Roman Catholic prelate, being the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalisz from 2012 to 2020. He was previously an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Wrocław and titular bishop of Scillium from 1996 to 2012.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Janiak was born in the town of Malczyce to a religious family. He had one younger brother who also became a priest. He graduated from the Technical School of Wood Industry in Sobieszów, obtaining a maturity certificate in 1971. Before entering the seminary, he studied for two years at the Faculty of Wood Technology of the University of Life Sciences in Poznań.[2]

From 1973 to 1979 he studied philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Wrocław, and obtained a master's degree in theology. During the same time, he also studied and lived at the Metropolitan Major Seminary in Wrocław. He was ordained a priest on 19 May 1979 in the Archcathedral of St. John the Baptist by local auxiliary bishop Wincenty Urban. After his ordination he continued his studies at the Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Wrocław, where in 1983 he obtained a licentiate in moral theology. From 1983 to 1986 he continued his studies in moral theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, from which he graduated with a doctorate degree.[3]

Sexual abuse crisis[]

In 2019 the documentary film by Polish director Tomasz Sekielski titled "Tell No One" and its 2020 successor "Hide and Seek" brought mainstream attention to how many Polish bishops were ignoring and neglecting reports of sexual abuse by priest in their diocese. The latter documentary was especially critical of Janiak's handling of abuse allegations in the Kalisz diocese, showing him berating the parents of an abuse victim who had filed charges.[4] It was later revealed that in May 2020 the priest of the diocese of Kalisz were asked to sign a letter pledging their obedience to Janiak, but most refused and instead asked the Vatican to investigate him. In June 2020 Pope Francis permanently removed Janiak from episcopal ministry and installed Grzegorz Ryś as a caretaker of the Kalisz diocese.[5]

Death[]

Janiak died in a hospital in Wrocław after battling lung cancer for several years.[6]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Bishop Edward Janiak †". Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Biskup Kalisz Edward Janiak" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  3. ^ K.R. Prokop: Biskupi Kościoła katolickiego w III Rzeczpospolitej. Kraków: Towarzystwo Autorów i Wydawców Prac Naukowych „Universitas”, 1998, s. 55–56. ISBN 83-7052-900-3.
  4. ^ "Pope moves against Polish bishop accused of hiding predators". Toronto City News. Associated Press. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Polish bishop accused of sex abuse cover-up removed by Pope Francis". Asscoated Press. Global News. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Nie żyje ks. Edward Janiak, były biskup diecezji kaliskiej" (in Polish). 23 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
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