[Updated 12:15 p.m. ET] A Polish-born priest accused of sexually abusing minors in his parochial residence in the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has turned himself in, state officials said Saturday.
State security officials said Marcin Michal Strachanowski, 44, surrendered to authorities Friday night in the village of Realengo.
State Civil Police had issued a "preventative arrest" warrant against Strachanowski on Thursday. The priest is accused of handcuffing a minor in 2006 and forcing him to perform sexual acts at his home in the Divino Espirito Santo church in Rio de Janeiro's west zone, the officials said.
In a press statement, the Rio de Janeiro archdiocese said it has suspended Strachanowski from his duties and that in addition to the criminal inquiry, the church has called on a ecclesiastic tribunal to oversee a canonical trial.
"The archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro laments the incident, especially for the people involved, especially for the possible victims, and clarifies that the mentioned clergyman already finds himself suspended of his parochial functions," the statement said.
According to Brazil's Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper, the priest could not be found Friday morning.
The newspaper reported that a 16-year old alleged victim told investigators that after being frequently raped by the priest, he was forced to remain silent and was threatened regularly.
Citing court statements, the newspaper reported that criminal Judge Alexandre Abrahao Dias Teixeira said police investigations revealed the profile of a man with a "compulsive attraction to having sex with adolescents" and that he had allegedly turned his parish residence into an "erotic dungeon" where he forced boys to have sex with him.
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When is God going to get a spell checker, for Christ's sake?
"Simon, thou art Peter, and on this rock I build my Church and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven and whatever you bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven"
Do you have any idea how crazy that sounds?
well i don't really know where you're coming from on this. That is a Bible quote. If you are an athiest or whatever than that's fine, I would never try to change your mind. But if you are a Christian, check your bible.
One problem with religion is that it isn't taxed. The allure of money and power attracts those who would exploit it... and lets be serious, today's religions are businesses. Why aren't they taxed as such?
All I can say is "amen" to your post. sanjosemike
Religion kills. Simple as that.
EVEN SATAN WOULDN'T FONDLE A DEFENSELESS CHILD.......But he will certainly let all the pedophile Priests and Ministers have it when they go down to see him. My advice to the pedophile "men of god".......DON'T FORGET YOUR ETERNAL SUPPLY OF KY LUBE!!!! The Catholic church is in DEEP EXCREMENT!!
These people are so sick they're probably looking forward to it.
This has got to be a new "low" for the church...just before you thought it couldn't get "lower." sanjosemike
You're forgetting about the Spanish Inquisition.
The bigger problem is not the priests but the coverup and protection of the criminals. If you support this church and do not demand action you are guilty by association.
Here is the passage in context. "Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:45-46) It was at this time in which Paul writes about in 2 Corinthians 5:21. "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."
But the question that frequently arises to many a sincere Bible Students is. "Why, at the climax of perfect obedience to his Father's will, did Jesus utter such words?" Was it in the depths of suffering and moments of final agony, the Lord experienced a moment of doubt, and felt that his Father, his God had actually deserted him?
WHAT DO YOU CARE? And what the heck is your point?
Is it me or are 99.9% of Priests and Ministers gay? They use thier authority to prey upon little boys. And the Vatican condones this EVIL! What goes around comes around!
Why not believe in a higher power, be good to people, be positive and stay away from Christianity? Or at least the Catholic religion???? It seems to be a cover for pedophiles....Shame Shame Shame
EVEN SATAN WOULDN'T FONDLE A DEFENSELESS CHILD.......But he will certainly let all the pedophile Priests and Ministers have it when they go down to see him.......RIGHT UP THE POOPHOLE!!!! My advice to the pedophile "men of god".......DON'T FORGET YOUR ETERNAL SUPPLY OF KY LUBE!!!! The Catholic church is in DEEP DOO DOO!!
In an effort to keep pedophiles from using the cover of priesthood to abuse children, I say mandatory castration should be considered. Yes it does sound barbaric, but if you are taking a vow of celibacy anyway, why not? If you are wondering who in the world would consider such a thing, I am a mother of a child who was molested for 2 1/2 years. My nightmare never ends, my child has suffered horribly. Something drastic needs to be done. I'd prefer it to be something nonviolent, but what can be done?
There's probably a lot of good priests out there doing what they do out of the goodness of their heart. With all the tax loopholes associated with the church, more than likely the majority of priests are playing along with their jobs to take advantage of.... well... a lot. PLEASE tax the church. If nothing else, it will drive out the rubbish that is dominating it now.
@Schlitz Malt : Nearly all pedophiles are straight, not gay. (some are gay, but a fairly small percentage)
At what point in history has religion brought anything to this planet other than bloodshed, oppression, and conflict. I mean really, at what point in the history of this planet has organized religion benefited the well being of all? Anyone? Anyone?
Back in the Sumerian age, before the majority of people could read or knew about the calendar, the priesthood tracked when people should plant/harvest their crops and were the keepers of knowledge necessary for the survival of the species. It's pretty much gone to he77 since then.