Maria Pakulnis is a famous Polish film, television and theater actress. In recent years, she appeared in the cast of the film “Johnny” and the series “Dewajtis”, an adaptation of the novel by Maria Rodziewiczówna. The artist recently gave a very honest interview to Dorota Wodecka from “Wysokie Obcasy”.
Maria Pakulnis was molested by a priest. She talked about the trauma for the first time
Pakulnis admitted that she did not make her first communion, which was met with misunderstanding by her peers. Today, especially in large cities, the number of people attending religious classes is decreasing, and people giving up catechesis at school are no longer surprising. Unfortunately, Maria Pakulnis had to endure cruel comments from her colleagues, who even called her “antichrist”.
The actress did not attend religious classes and was afraid to go to church. She returned to the altar many years later, when she had to bury a teacher who was as close to her as a mother. “My Krysia died. In the summer of 2022, I went to her funeral (…) She was interested in me and involved me in the poetry theater she ran at school. And at the end of five years of studies, she took me to a bench in an empty classroom, and then she practiced my diction so that I could speak Polish firmly and beautifully,” says Pakulnis.
The actress’s fear and aversion to the Church did not come out of nowhere. Pakulnis decided to make a confession that she had never dared to make publicly before. She said that when she was 11 or 12, she was on the skating team. At one competition, she and her friends won medals and were invited to afternoon tea by the parish priest.
“I had to run two large streets and half of my own. On a frozen sidewalk. I cried.”
The actress’s visit to the rectory was disturbing for her from the very beginning. “I was afraid from the very beginning, after all, they knew everything about every family. Who you were, where you were from, what your parents did, how you lived. But I went because I was with my friends.” – recalls the artist. According to Pakulnis, the priest congratulated the girls on their success, asked about their holiday plans and called to show them photos from Yugoslavia. During the visit, the parish priest allegedly “poured something from a crystal carafe.”
Pakulnis recalls that she sat closest to the priest who invaded her personal space and then showed her nude photos. “He pulls me to him, my back to his belly and spread wide legs. And he shows me a photo. For the first time in my life I see color photos. And he is lying on the rocks, naked, and next to him is a naked woman,” says the actress.
Unfortunately, the priest goes even further. “He hugs me tightly with his hand, I feel that something is wrong, I don’t know that he has an erection because I can’t name it, and he asks: ‘Shall I tell you?’. I broke away from him and ran into the hall. I grabbed my jacket and ran out. outside. It was already dark. I had to run two large streets and half of my own. On the frozen sidewalk. I was crying. And suddenly I peed in my panties out of fear, and urine dripped down my tights into my shoes,” Pakulnis reveals her traumatic memories.
After these events, the actress did not talk about the incident with her friends, nor did she tell her mother about the molestation. However, the event was deeply rooted in Pakulnis’ consciousness. When, in her adult life, she was supposed to receive an award from the city hall in Giżycko, she did not appear at the ceremony. The laurel presentation was to take place in the company of priests and the bishop.
You need help?
Sexual violence is any unwanted sexual contact. According to UNICEF data, approximately 15 million teenagers between 15 and 19 years of age have experienced this type of violence around the world, but only 1 percent of teenagers seek help from a professional. Research shows that 80 percent Rape victims develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
If you are a victim of sexual violence, you can get help by calling, for example, the “Niebieska Linia” Telephone Clinic – 22 668 70 00 (7 days a week, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.) or the 24-hour emergency hotline of the Women’s Rights Center – 600 070 717.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
