Warsaw: A Catholic priest in Poland is facing dismissal from the clergy after admitting to the murder of a homeless man. The archbishop of Warsaw, Adrian Galbas, has sought the Vatican's approval for the highest ecclesiastical penalty due to the grave nature of the crime and the resulting public outrage, a church spokesman informed PAP news agency on Sunday.
According to Ghana News Agency, the public prosecutor's office revealed that the 60-year-old priest, who headed a small parish south of Warsaw, confessed to the crime. Authorities have issued an arrest warrant for an initial three-month period as the murder investigation continues. The 68-year-old victim was discovered severely injured and on fire on a road near the village of Chyn³w on Thursday evening and later succumbed to his injuries.
A witness observed the priest's vehicle at the crime scene, leading to the suspect's detention on Friday. The priest, who could face life imprisonment, reportedly had an altercation with the victim while they were driving together. He allegedly struck the man with an axe before setting him ablaze with petrol.
Investigators suspect the motive was related to a donation agreement, where the priest was supposed to care for the man and arrange housing in exchange for a donation. The priest claimed the argument was over the man's future accommodation. Galbas expressed his inability to comprehend the brutal crime but acknowledged his responsibility for the incident within his church. "I ask for forgiveness," he stated, as reported by PAP.
