Polish order seeks prayers as priests face sentences in Belarus

A Polish religious order has called for global prayers following the sentencing of one of its senior priests, Oblate Father Andrzej Juchniewicz, to 13 years in prison on unspecified political charges in Belarus. Father Marcin Wrzos, spokesman for the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, expressed concern over this recent development. "He’s the second priest to receive a heavy sentence recently, in what’s clearly meant as a warning to other clergy not to engage in any public activity," he said.

Father Juchniewicz's conviction follows that of Father Henrykh Akalatovich, an elderly parish rector from Valozyn who began serving an 11-year sentence on April 20. Father Wrzos noted his personal shock at the situation and mentioned efforts to appeal the April 30 ruling by the regional court in Vitebsk. "As far as we’re concerned, Father Juchniewicz is innocent — we count on his complete exoneration," he stated.

The trial and subsequent jailing of Father Juchniewicz were not publicly announced but communicated unofficially within his parish community at Our Lady of Fatima in Shumilina. An initial charge related to undefined "subversive activities" was later altered to criminal offenses. The priest denied all accusations during a closed trial without media or public presence.

An unofficial Catholic website, Katolik.life, reported that new charges involved "three criminal offenses related to sexual relations with minors." However, it also noted that no complaints had been received about him by the Vitebsk Diocese. Bishop Oleg Butkevich attended some trial sessions but could not conduct an investigation into these allegations due to canon law restrictions while Father Juchniewicz remained detained.

Father Akalatovich's case involved accusations of espionage and high treason after being accused of transmitting information about a military unit near his church. He faced health issues during pre-trial detention and was reportedly denied opportunities for prayer or Mass.

The cases have raised concerns about religious freedom in Belarus where Catholics make up around ten percent of the population under President Alexander Lukashenko's long-term leadership. Since August 2020, dozens of clergy across different denominations have faced arrest amid political unrest and international sanctions against Belarus.

In response to these events, Father Wrzos highlighted their sensitivity within Belarus' Catholic Church: "Since we have no legal status and aren’t family members, we can’t visit or communicate with him in detention." Both priests are recognized among over a thousand political prisoners by human rights organizations operating outside Belarus.

Jonathan Luxmoore reports for OSV News from Oxford, England.