Police intervention in Grojec

Tensions in the village of Grojec in Oświęcim County escalated on Sunday, 4 October 2026, when hundreds of local residents surrounded Saint Lawrence Church to protest the removal of their longtime parish priest. Bishop Roman Pindel of the Diocese of Bielsko-Żywiec arrived at the church at 19:00 to meet with members of the parish council. During the meeting, the bishop requested that council members swear an oath on the Bible not to disclose the specific reasons behind the dismissal. That confidentiality measure intensified the anger of the crowd outside, who accused church leadership of withholding information from ordinary parishioners. Protesters physically obstructed the exits, scuffled with clergy, and trapped the delegation inside the building. Police officers and specialized negotiators from Kraków deployed to the scene, eventually forming a secure cordon at approximately 01:00 on Monday, 5 October, to escort Bishop Pindel from the presbytery.

Vatican appeals and canonical dismissal

The confrontation followed the departure of Father Józef Zborek, who had led the Saint Lawrence parish for nearly 30 years before vacating the rectory on Saturday, 3 October. Two days before the parish protest, the diocese announced that Zborek was removed from office due to proven serious irregularities in the fulfillment of his duties. Zborek challenged the decision through formal canonical channels, retaining a professor of canon law to represent him in appeals to the Holy See. The Vatican Dicastery for the Clergy examined the case and upheld Bishop Pindel's initial ruling. The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura subsequently concluded the proceedings, issuing a final decree that formally terminated the priest's tenure.

Allegations and parish administration

The dispute involved the scheduling of Mass intentions and the financial offerings associated with them. Catholic canon law restricts individual priests to celebrating one Mass per day, or two in parishes facing clergy shortages, with any additional services requiring explicit diocesan authorization. Informants cited by Rzeczpospolita indicated that Zborek celebrated up to 10 Masses on certain days and redirected surplus intentions to friendly priests in neighboring parishes through an informal network. Parishioners strongly defended his pastoral record, pointing to his renovation of the church and rectory as well as his willingness to administer sacraments to low-income families without charge. Community members also suggested that high attendance and collection revenues at Grojec had generated resentment among priests in surrounding parishes.

Disputed claims and appeals for calm

Following the disturbance at the church, Bishop Pindel met with Father Zborek on Monday for extensive discussions before issuing an official video statement on X. The bishop appealed for an end to verbal and physical hostility, citing concerns for the safety of both clergy and parishioners.

We had a long conversation. Father Józef admitted that he committed a serious canonical crime, accepted the decision of the Church Tribunal, and agreed to leave the parish.

Father Zborek, who relocated to his family home in Jabłonka, offered a different perspective during phone interviews with TVN24 and Radio ZET. He denied allegations of financial delinquency, stating that the parish had paid all required contributions to the curia and had even submitted payments above the requested amounts. While confirming that he submitted to the formal canonical ruling, he maintained that Vatican officials had not thoroughly investigated the circumstances and attributed his removal to external jealousy.

I cannot say anything, and secondly, in due time everything will be clear.