Father Henryk Jankowski (18 December 1936, in Starogard Gdański – 12 July 2010, in Gdańsk) was a Polish Roman Catholic priest, member of Solidarity movement and one of the priests supporting that movement in opposition to the communist government in the 1980s. He was also a long serving provost of St. Bridget's church in Gdańsk (until 2004). In the late 1990s he became known for his critique of the European Union and for anti-Semitic remarks, and was suspended from preaching for a year.[1] Father Jankowski was accused of being a pedophile and child rapist but was never convicted. The issue is still being investigated,[2] remains a matter of discussion and an object of press's interest.[3]

Henryk Jankowski (2010)
Former statue of Henryk Jankowski by Giennadij Jerszow in Gdańsk

According to records saved in Instytut Pamięci Narodowej Henryk Jankowski since 1980 to 1982 was an operational contact codename "Delegat" of communist Służba Bezpieczeństwa.[4]

He supported the Father Henryk Jankowski Institute, described as supporting charities and social projects, by sales of a wine with his image on the label, sold under the name "Monsignore", and had plans to open a chain of 16 cafés in major Polish cities and to market perfume and clothing also bearing his image.

In February 2019 the statue of Jankowski in Gdańsk was toppled by a group of protestors[5] and ultimately liquidated on 8 March 2019.[6][7]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Priest plans his own perfumes". Reuters. 3 July 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  2. ^ "Henryk Jankowski, Pro-Solidarity Priest, Dies at 73". The New York Times. 14 July 2010. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
  3. ^ "Sekret Świętej Brygidy. Dlaczego Kościół przez lata pozwalał księdzu Jankowskiemu wykorzystywać dzieci?". wyborcza.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  4. ^ Instytut Pamięci Narodowej, przegląd mediów 15 października 2009
  5. ^ "La statue du prêtre de Solidarnosc, accusé de pédophilie, renversée à Gdansk" (in French). 22 February 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  6. ^ Zięba, Szymon (7 March 2019). "Kontrowersje wokół pomnika ks. Henryka Jankowskiego. Pomnik ma zostać rozebrany w piątek rano. Związkowiec z "S": Jestem bardzo rozczarowany". Nowiny (in Polish). Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  7. ^ Santora, Marc; Berendt, Joanna (17 May 2019). "'Tell No One': Poland Is Pushed to Confront Abuse of Children by Priests". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 15 March 2020.