Dark clouds over the priest. One million zlotys from the faithful evaporated
The case of a priest who allegedly lost a total of PLN 1 million borrowed from the faithful allegedly due to a “cryptocurrency scam” returns. A new investigation is underway in the case.
In the second half of 2025, the former parish priest of St. Jadwiga Śląska in Żory-Baranowice reported to the services that he had been robbed. The priest lost PLN 1 million on fake cryptocurrencies. Investigators then determined that the funds invested by the priest went to fraudsters impersonating a crypto platform. Later, the priest transferred them another nearly PLN 18,000. euros in an unsuccessful operation to recover all the money. The former parish priest then asked the faithful to pray for him.
The priest was allegedly defrauded of cryptocurrencies. The faithful no longer believe in it?
Due to the failure to detect the perpetrators of the fraud, the district prosecutor’s office in Żory discontinued the proceedings regarding extorting money from the priest. However, new circumstances have recently emerged.
According to the findings of “Wyborcza”, investigators are conducting new proceedings as a result of reports from two faithful from the parish run by the priest. The victims accuse the priest of borrowing PLN 15,000 from them. PLN which he has not paid back to this day.
New investigation into the priest’s case
The former parish priest may face serious consequences. If the investigation shows that when taking out loans from the faithful, the priest did not intend to repay them or had no opportunity to repay them at all, and yet he obliged to do so, the prosecutor’s office may charge him with fraud.
Therefore, further doubts are multiplying around the priest. As a result of the inspection of the Archdiocese of Katowice, many irregularities in the management of the parish budget were revealed. However, the Curia did not submit the notification, but he ceased to serve as parish priest. Since December 2025, the parish has been managed by Fr. Janusz Wilk.
Curia: Fr. Pawlas was obliged to repay private debts
In a statement sent to the “GW” editorial office, the curia assured that the priest had been instructed and obliged to settle his private debts.
“The parish audit did not cover private financial liabilities incurred by Father Pawlas towards natural persons. As the person concerned himself assured, these liabilities are of a personal nature and are not directly related to the activities of the parish,” we read in a statement from the Archdiocese of Katowice.
