‘Drunk’ priest ‘barely able to stand’ while overseeing the funeral of a stillborn child in front of devastated relatives is fined by Polish police

• After arriving late Father Czesław Kubera from Garczegorze began slurring and mumbling

A Parish priest in Poland has sparked fury after turning up to the funeral of a stillborn baby drunk and late.

After arriving at the funeral an hour after it was supposed to start, Father Czesław Kubera from the village of Garczegorze in northern Poland began slurring and mumbling.

‘He confused words, slurred words, could barely stand,’ according to Polish newspaper Fakt.

He then told the grieving family that ‘the angel is sleeping, so I was also sleeping’. 

The baby’s devastated aunt told Fakt: ‘The priest didn’t show up so the funeral home called him.

The church in Garczejrz (File Photo). After arriving at the funeral an hour after it was supposed to start, Father Czesław Kubera from the village of Garczegorze in northern Poland began slurring and mumbling

‘After the call the priest showed up, a local parishioner drove him because the priest had lost his driving license for driving under the influence of alcohol.

‘When he arrived he was drunk. He mixed up words, was slurring and mixed up songs.

‘At the entrance to the cemetery he told us: “The angel is sleeping, so I was sleeping too”. Everyone was speechless. I don’t know, we are lost for words.

‘The boy’s parents are unable to talk. This caused them even more pain

‘When he finished the ceremony, we called the police.’

When the police arrived they found that the priest was above the alcohol limit. 

According to other horrified witnesses, he was unable to stand properly.

Police spokeswoman Marta Szałkowska said: ‘We received a report that a priest was conducting funeral services in the Nowa Wieś Lęborska commune, and he may be intoxicated.’

She noted that he was given a breathalyser test and was found to be above the limit. 

‘He was fined PLN 500 (£99)’, she said. 

Now it has emerged that last year the was caught driving under the influence and lost his driving licence.

An outraged local told Fakt newspaper: ‘This is not the first such situation with this priest.

‘He was drunk at masses and baptisms, but the situation at the funeral was beyond human comprehension.

‘We reported it to the curia [the official body that governs the Catholic church], but there was no reaction before.

‘This priest should go to rehab and not conduct masses.’

Bishop Ryszard Kasyna, who oversees the parish, said: ‘The Diocesan Bishop called the parish priest from Gargrzerz for a conversation.

‘The family of the deceased child will be informed about its results and the consequences towards the priest.’

Source: Read Full Article