Retired priest charged for alleged sexual assault in 1980s in Peel Region: police

Police say an 84-year-old retired priest has been charged in connection with a sexual assault investigation in the Peel Region.

Peel Regional Police said in October, officers received information that a Catholic priest working in the Peel Region between 1980 and 1983 allegedly sexually assaulted a boy while he was in attendance at church.

Officers said on Dec. 15, police arrested 84-year-old Jozef Wasik from Toronto.

He has been charged with gross indecency and indecent assault on a male.

According to police, Wasik has been retired from the parish since June 2013.

Investigators believe there may be additional victims.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.

In a statement, the Archdiocese of Toronto said the allegations against Wasik date back to the early 1980s when he was a pastor at St. Martin of Tours Parish in Mississauga.

“He is entitled to due process, as is any accused individual,” the statement read.

According to the Archdiocese of Toronto, Wasik served in ministry at St Teresa in Etobicoke from 1974 to 1978, the Canadian Martyrs in Toronto from 1978 to 1979, Annuciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Toronto from 1979 to 1980, and St Martin of Tours in Mississauga from 1980-1990.

He then served at St. Partrick in Missisauga from 1990 to 199, Merciful Redeemer in Mississauga from 1996 to 2003 and Christ the King in Etobicoke from 2003 to 2013. He retired in 2013.

The Archdiocese of Toronto said it “looks upon any allegation of misconduct as an urgent matter that requires serious attention.”

“We pray for all those who are affected by this painful situation,” the statement read.