High school priest's whipped cream initiation ceremony 'inappropriate' says NGO

photo - www.gimnazjum-lubin.salezjanie.pl

Photos of the initiation ceremony at the St. Dominika Savio Sialesian School (Gimnazjum Salezjańskie) in Lubln were posted on the high school's web site.

Director at the school, Father Marcin Kozyra, told TV Odra that the initiation ceremony for first year pupils had been an annual event for many years and “neither students or parents ever complained.”

Janina Jakubowska, from the board of trustees at the Lower Silesia Education Board warned “not to judge the case too hastily. We do not know the exact circumstances,” she told the Gazeta Wyborcza daily.

“It was an initiation ceremony: maybe it was the kids idea,” she volunteered.

The local prosecuting office said that though “this exceeded the limit of good taste, no crime was committed, with no sexual intent.”

Monika Sajkowska, from the Nobody's Child Foundation NGO, while agreeing that the intentions of the priest at the school may have been innocent, judged the behaviour as “inappropriate”.

“The children were manipulated into this. Limits were exceeded. But not, it appears, with any other intention other than having fun,” she said, adding that “parents should talk to the children” about this.

The photographs of the initiation ceremony have now been removed from the school's web site. (pg)