Religion · Springfield, MA Metro · August 12, 2026
Lawsuit: Agawam Priest Groped Teen, Invoked Jesus; Diocese Named
A civil lawsuit filed last week in Massachusetts accuses former Catholic priest Tomasz Parzynski of repeatedly groping a teenage boy, then 14 to 16 years old, in the sacristy of St. John the Evangelist Church in Agawam between 2013 and 2015, according to MassLive. The complaint alleges Parzynski told the boy the abuse was "what Jesus wanted" and how he could "fully embrace [Jesus]." The plaintiff reportedly suffered nightmares and was later hospitalized for suicidal thoughts. Parzynski, who left the priesthood and later pleaded guilty to possessing a forged passport, was reassigned to churches in the Miami area after hundreds of Agawam parishioners lobbied the bishop against the move. When contacted by a reporter, Parzynski called the allegations "strange" and denied prior knowledge of them. The lawsuit also names the Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield, alleging years of failures to investigate, report, and disclose clergy abuse that "emboldened predatory priests." The Springfield Diocese declined to comment. The case is being handled by the Boston firm Sweeney Merrigan Law, which is pursuing a separate decades-old abuse claim against another Springfield-area bishop.
Source: MassLive.com
Why Bible-Believing Christians Should Care
This is a factual report of a civil lawsuit and criminal record, not a proven verdict — the allegations remain unadjudicated. But the pattern described is grimly familiar: an institutional structure that reassigned a priest despite parishioner objection, and a diocese now accused of years of concealment that let abuse continue. Scripture does not treat the abuse of a child, especially one manipulated through spiritual language, as a minor matter — Christ's own words carry severe warning for those who harm the vulnerable in His name. Bible-believing readers should not confuse institutional Catholicism's hierarchy and sacramental authority with the biblical gospel, and should recognize that true shepherds are called to protect, not exploit, the flock. Wherever abuse is covered rather than confronted, it is a failure of leadership accountability that Scripture condemns regardless of denomination.
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. — Matthew 18:6
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From the book
Ch. 17, The Mountain of Religion: Defending and Reclaiming Churches and Spiritual Organizations — the accountability-failure framework.
Get the BookIf this is your mountain
- Ask your own church or diocese what background-check, reporting, and reassignment policies exist for clergy misconduct allegations.
- Confirm your state's mandatory reporting laws for clergy and ensure your congregation's leadership understands them.
- If your church has moved or reassigned a leader following unresolved concerns, ask why and request documentation of the review process.
- Follow the Springfield Diocese's public response, if any, to see whether it addresses the lawsuit's institutional-failure claims directly.
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