In brief

• Rev. Rafał Główczyński, known as "Ksiądz z osiedla", is being moved from Piastów to Trzebnica from 1 November.
• The Salvatorian order says the decision was made in March and the start date was moved at the priest's request.
• The priest responded angrily on Facebook, rejected the order's account and promised to publish correspondence.

Transfer after a dispute with superiors

Rev. Rafał Główczyński, a Salvatorian priest who gained wide popularity on social media under the name "Ksiądz z osiedla", is leaving the parish of St. Michael the Archangel in Piastów, near Warsaw, for the Międzynarodowe Sanktuarium św. Jadwigi Śląskiej in Trzebnica ("Ksiądz z osiedla" przeniesiony do innej parafii. Grzmi na przełożonych. "Wkur*łem się!" – wiadomosci.dziennik.pl) (Afera z przeniesieniem znanego księdza do innej parafii. Duchowny uderza w zakon: bzdury! – Onet). He is due to start his new duties on 1 November („Ksiądz z osiedla” grzmi na przełożonych. „Bzdury!”. Dlaczego opuszcza Piastów? - Warszawa, Super Express – se.pl) (Ksiądz z osiedla wściekły po oświadczeniu przełożonych. We wpisie zarzuty i przekleństwa – Interia Wydarzenia).

The Polish Province of the Salvatorians issued a statement explaining the decision. According to the order, the personnel decision was made in March, and the start date was moved to November at the priest's own request (Znany ksiądz przeniesiony do innej parafii. Zakon wydał oświadczenie – o2.pl) (Burza wokół znanego księdza. Odpowiedź zakonnika. "Trochę się zagalopowałeś" – o2). The order said it had no moral or financial objections to him and stressed that he had never received permission to buy a barge on the Vistula or a retreat house on Madeira.

Priest rejects the order's account

Główczyński responded on Facebook on Wednesday, 29 October. He used strong language, accused his superiors of presenting untrue information, and said he would make his correspondence with them public (Znany ksiądz odpowiada. Ostra reakcja. Zapowiada ujawnienie maili – o2). He also said he would hold a press conference.

One of his fellow Salvatorians, Rev. Konrad Nowak, publicly answered him, saying the priest had "gone a bit too far".

Popularity and background

Główczyński became known to a wide audience through social media, where he speaks about faith and the problems of young people. He also appeared in the third season of the TVN programme "The Traitors. Zdrajcy". Users often pointed to his youth and charity initiatives.

Parishioners in Piastów were saddened by his departure. The parish thanked him for his presence and his warmth, and wrote that it was not saying goodbye but "see you later" (Znany ksiądz przeniesiony do innej parafii. Zakon przeciął spekulacje – dorzeczy.pl).

Because he belongs to a religious order and not to a diocese, diocesan boundaries do not limit where he can serve.