“The Holy Father accepts the resignation of the pastoral government of the Diocese of Sosnowiec (Poland), presented by His Excellency Most Reverend Bishop Grzegorz Kaszak.” For example, the Holy See announced on Tuesday the dismissal of a 59-year-old pastor, international media report.

The Polish diocese of Sosnowiec was reportedly the scene of a sex party organized by priests, with local media saying a male prostitute collapsed after taking erection pills.

The statement gave no reason for Bishop Grzegorz Kaszak’s resignation, saying only that Pope Francis had accepted it. The Kaszak diocese in southwestern Poland has been embroiled in scandal since reports emerged in September of an orgy at a priest’s home in the town of Dabrowa Gornicza.

According to Polish media reports, a prostitute collapsed at the party, so one of the partygoers called an ambulance. When paramedics arrived, they were denied entry and could not treat the man until they called police, reports said. Since the incident, Kaszak has asked worshipers to pray for the priests involved, as well as for other people who had done nothing wrong but were affected by their behavior, according to Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper and other media.

The priest who organized the party in his apartment, named Tomasz Z, was eventually fired, state news agency PAP said. The diocese declared that his conduct was “a cause of great scandal to the faithful and just indignation of public opinion.” In a statement on the diocesan website, Kaszak thanked the faithful for their support of the church. “I will always remember you in my prayers,” he said. (JO)