In Belarus, Polish RCC clergy are not having their permits to serve renewed

On July 2, Polish RCC priests whose permits to serve in Belarus were not renewed began leaving the country or suspending their religious activities, reports Katolik.life.

Among those who have left is the dean of the Stolbtsy deanery, Father Maryan Shershen, who had served in Belarus for 36 years. He was the rector in Naliboki, restored the local church, and was held in great respect by the faithful; however, after being denied a renewal of his permit, he was forced to quietly leave the country.

According to the faithful, Father Lech Bakhanek, who has served in Belarus for more than 25 years, was also denied a renewal of his permit to continue serving. Some Polish priests, in order to remain in the country, intend to apply for Belarusian citizenship, since in that case they would no longer need a separate permit to serve.

While the previous permit expires and the citizenship issue remains unresolved, the priests are forced to suspend their religious activities and are not appearing in public. As the publication notes, there have previously been cases where Polish priests were denied citizenship after many years of service in Belarus.

Another cleric who must leave Belarus is the dean of the Myadel deanery and rector of the parish in Svir, Father Boguslaw Madzheyevsky. In addition, in the Grodno diocese, the faithful bid farewell to Polish priest Zbigniew Dragula of the Michaelite order, who had served in the country for 27 years.

The SPJ previously reported that the RCC condemned measures for the deportation of migrants from the EU.

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