POLICE have charged a 47-year-old Roman-Catholic priest from the Zlaté Moravce district with sexual abuse. If found guilty, the man could spend from three to 10 years in prison, the TASR newswire reported on September 24.
From November 2011 to August 2012, the priest allegedly abused an 11-year-old girl. He would, for example, send her text messages telling her that he loved her, according to the website of the Nový Čas tabloid daily, Čas.sk.
The priest has been suspended from the parish until the court issues a verdict in his case, the SITA newswire informed.
Though the priest refused to comment on the charges publicly, he said off the record that he feels sorry. A source close to the investigation told the Sme daily that the priest confessed his affection for the girl.
According to a psychologist, the case has signs of paedophilia, Čas.sk wrote.
Since the investigation is still ongoing, the police refused to provide any further information, TASR wrote.
The Nitra diocese has not commented on the case yet, but said the bishop will deal with it, Sme wrote.
Source: TASR, Cas.sk, SITA, Sme
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
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