Documentary record Bound by Fear
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Conviction Christian institutions & contexts Catholic Bydgoszcz, Diocese of Bydgoszcz, Poland · 2026

Poland: former priest Rafał K. finally convicted for posing as a sexologist to abuse minors and adults under cover of 'therapy'

Record class

Core record

Evidence status

Convicted

Authority role

See cited record

Organization

No organization assigned

Spiritual nexus

The defendant used his standing as a priest to present himself as a credible pastoral-and-therapeutic counsellor for sexual matters, drawing victims (including minors from religious families) into private 'therapy' sessions where his clerical authority made refusal and disclosure difficult.

  • Pastoral or clerical authority
  • Spiritual healing or treatment

Evidence structure

Proceedings

  1. Date in cited record · First-instance conviction

    District Court, Bydgoszcz, Poland. Convicted

  2. Date in cited record · Appellate judgment

    Court of Appeal in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Conviction affirmed (12 June, per source); sentenced to 10.5 years, final

Primary record

Sources

TVP Bydgoszcz (2026) 'Ksiądz Rafał K. z Bydgoszczy usłyszał wyższy wyrok. Ma spędzić w więzieniu 10,5 roku'. Available at: bydgoszcz.tvp.pl (Accessed 2026-07-19). English gloss: The Court of Appeal in Bydgoszcz, on 12 June, upheld the district court's finding and sentenced former priest Rafał K. to 10.5 years, a final judgment, for sexually abusing 10 victims -- two of them minors -- under the pretext of running 'sexual-disorder therapy' sessions in which he showed pornography and touched them.

TVP Bydgoszcz (2026) 'Ksiądz Rafał K. z Bydgoszczy usłyszał wyższy wyrok. Ma spędzić w więzieniu 10,5 roku'. Available at: bydgoszcz.tvp.pl (Accessed 2026-07-19). English gloss: The Court of Appeal in Bydgoszcz, on 12 June, upheld the district court's finding and sentenced former priest Rafał K. to 10.5 years, a final judgment, for sexually abusing 10 victims -- two of them minors -- under the pretext of running 'sexual-disorder therapy' sessions in which he showed pornography and touched them.

Express Bydgoski (2026) 'Bydgoski ksiądz, który udawał seksuologa i mierzył przyrodzenia, skazany na 10,5 roku więzienia'. Available at: expressbydgoski.pl (Accessed 2026-07-19). English gloss: Under the guise of a priest running an informal 'sexology' counselling practice, the defendant gained the victims' trust while claiming to treat them for sexual dysfunction, then abused them during the sessions.

Express Bydgoski (2026) 'Bydgoski ksiądz, który udawał seksuologa i mierzył przyrodzenia, skazany na 10,5 roku więzienia'. Available at: expressbydgoski.pl (Accessed 2026-07-19). English gloss: Under the guise of a priest running an informal 'sexology' counselling practice, the defendant gained the victims' trust while claiming to treat them for sexual dysfunction, then abused them during the sessions.

Related record

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