Bishop Roman Pindel evacuated by police from Grojec parish

Bishop Roman Pindel of the Bielsko-Żywiecka Diocese was evacuated by police from the parish of St. Lawrence in Grojec following a violent confrontation with parishioners. The unrest stems from the dismissal of long-time parish priest Józef Zborek, who served the community for nearly three decades.

The Diocese stated that Zborek was removed due to “proven serious irregularities in the performance of his duties.” While the specific nature of these irregularities was not disclosed to protect privacy, the decision was upheld by the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Clergy and the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura after Zborek exhausted his appeals.

During a visit to the village intended to discuss the situation with the Parish Council, tensions escalated. Witnesses reported that an aggressive crowd entered the church, shouting insults and physically obstructing the clergy. The situation required the intervention of police negotiators to facilitate the Bishop’s safe departure around 1:00 AM. Many local residents continue to protest the decision, expressing strong support for Zborek and criticizing the lack of transparency regarding the reasons for his removal.