Gedmantė Eimontienė, the cabinet’s plenipotentiary for Vilnius and Alytus counties, told reporters she had given the Wilno district council “one month to act; otherwise the case will be filed in court”.
The predominantly Polish-minority council, controlled by the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania–Christian Families Alliance (AWPL-ZChR), rejected the renaming proposal last month. It will revisit the issue on 27 March and hold public consultations, mayoral spokesman Kęstutis Butvydas said.
The Vatican in 2020 barred Gulbinowicz, a former archbishop of Wrocław who grew up near Vilnius, from public ministry after finding he had sexually abused minors, concealed other abuse and cooperated with communist-era secret police. He died weeks later.
Despite the ruling, Gulbinowicz retains the title of honorary citizen and his name adorns streets in the villages of Pagiriai and Riešė. In September, the council also failed to strip him of the honorary award.
AWPL-ZChR veteran Maria Rekść argued during debate that “the accusations have not been officially proven” and urged colleagues “not to use the word ‘pedophile’ without confirmation”.
The finance-backed district of 110,000 people borders Lithuania’s capital, where Gulbinowicz celebrated his 90th birthday Mass in 2013. Eimontienė said keeping his name on public signs is incompatible with “public morality and victims’ rights”.
(jh)
Source: Polish Radio, PAP